Labour Minister Resigns Over Journalist Probe

0:00On February 28th, this episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Fast, reliable online privacy. Links in the episode description. Here's the latest in UK news. Labor Minister Josh Simons has resigned after suggesting journalists were tied to a pro-cremlin network. The Makerfield MP, who served in the cabinet office, quit on Saturday, calling his role a distraction to the government's work. This came amid pressure over his past leadership of the think tank Labor Together. The group hired the PR firm APCO to probe reporters, who questioned its undisclosed political donations. Simons faced the formal probe by the Prime Minister's advisor on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus. The review cleared him of breaking the code, but noted real risks of reputational harm if he stayed on. New details emerged showing Simons commissioned the APCO report himself. He and his chief of staff then emailed the National Cybersecurity Center, flagging specific journalists, and hinting at Russian disinformation links, though no solid evidence backs those claims.

1:02His exit highlights tensions between politics and the press, as Labor pushes forward on key priorities amid the fallout.