Labour MP Josh Simons resigns as a Cabinet Office minister

The MP for Makerfield in the North West has faced calls to resign from his ministerial post over claims that think tank Labour Together paid PR firm Apco Worldwide to look into the background of journalists in 2023, when Mr Simons was its director.

He confirmed he had resigned from the role in a statement this evening (February 28).

Labour MP Josh Simons resigns as a Cabinet Office minister

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Simons said: “The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.

“But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.

“I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.”

His resignation comes after an investigation into allegations that a prominent think tank he ran before entering government paid for a probe into journalists.

Mr Simons faced calls to resign after his think tank, Labour Together, was accused of paying PR firm Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate the background of journalists who had written stories about it.

In previous statements, Mr Simons said Apco had been hired to investigate an illegal hack.

But in a letter to the Prime Minister, ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said the former minister now accepted the terms he agreed with Apco were “wider than he had understood” and he had acted “too hastily in confirming their appointment”.

While Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted “in good faith”, he said the MP acknowledged the “perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging”.

Sir Laurie added: “I see no basis for advising you of any breach of the Ministerial Code by Mr Simons but you will wish to consider, in the light of this distraction and potential reputational damage, whether he continues to hold your confidence as a member of your Government.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he has accepted “with sadness” the resignation of Josh Simons from his role as a Cabinet Office minister.

“I want to express my thanks for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office,” he said in his reply to Mr Simons’ letter of resignation.

Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I also want to place on record that the Independent Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no breach of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive cooperation throughout his work.

“I understand that, to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the Government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside.

“I respect that decision, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in driving forward the Government’s priorities.”