Documents have surfaced revealing that senior advisors to Prime Minister Keir Starmer were aware of an investigation targeting journalists who dared to criticize the Labour Together think tank. This revelation casts a shadow over Starmer’s leadership and raises serious questions about accountability within his inner circle.

The documents show that Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of staff, was among those briefed on the probe commissioned by Josh Simons, the then-director of Labour Together. The investigation sought to identify the sources behind stories exposing £740,000 in undeclared donations made to the think tank when it was previously run by McSweeney. This financial impropriety, which resulted in a £14,250 fine for Labour Together, underscores a concerning pattern of disregard for proper financial conduct.

The timing of the investigation, six months before Labour's victory in the 2024 general election, raises suspicions about its potential political motivations. Simons' communication with McSweeney and Paul Ovenden, Starmer’s director of political strategy, regarding the investigation conducted by Apco Worldwide, a US-owned PR firm, suggests a coordinated effort to control the narrative surrounding Labour Together's financial dealings.

The fact that Apco Worldwide, a PR firm, was hired to investigate journalists raises concerns about the potential for abuse of power and the chilling effect on free speech. The targeting of journalists like Henry Dyer from the Guardian, Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke from the Sunday Times, and John McEvoy from Declassified UK suggests a deliberate attempt to silence dissenting voices.

An email dated January 14, 2024, reveals Simons informing McSweeney and Ovenden that Tom Harper, Apco’s senior director, would be delivering a report on journalist Paul Holden. The ensuing Apco report went even further, including information about Pogrund’s faith and personal relationships. This crosses a line and raises serious ethical questions about the tactics employed by Labour Together and its PR firm.

Even more disturbing is the report's suggestion that Pogrund’s reporting could be interpreted as “destabilising to the UK and also in the interests of Russia’s strategic foreign policy objectives.” This unsubstantiated claim is reckless and irresponsible, and it serves to further undermine public trust in the media and in the political process.