JOSH SIMONS has stepped down as a Cabinet Office minister following controversy linked to a think tank he previously led. The row centers on claims that the organization gathered background information on journalists who published a critical story.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer asked his independent ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, to examine whether Simons had breached the ministerial code. After reviewing the case, the adviser concluded that Simons did not break the code. However, he noted that the former minister acknowledged acting too quickly in approving the appointment of a public relations firm.
The controversy relates to Labour Together, which Simons ran before entering government. Reports claim the group paid £36,000 to PR firm Apco Worldwide to investigate journalists’ backgrounds. Simons admitted the scope of the agreement was broader than he initially understood.
In his resignation statement, Simons said he had become a distraction and did not want the issue to overshadow the government’s work. The prime minister accepted his resignation with sadness.
The development adds pressure to the government as it seeks to maintain public trust and transparency in office.
