Welsh Labour MPs must return Labour Together donations – Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru MP calls on Welsh Labour MPs to consider their commitment to a free press

Plaid Cymru has called on Welsh Labour MPs to return tens of thousands of pounds received from the scandal-hit think tank Labour Together, following serious revelations about its conduct.

The Cabinet Office is “looking into” the conduct of the think tank after it was accused of paying a PR firm to investigate journalists reporting on its funding.

The organisation – previously led by Morgan McSweeney, who resigned last week as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff – was fined £14,250 by the Electoral Commission for 20 breaches of electoral law, including failures relating to undeclared donations.

Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Môn, Llinos Medi, said that “a free press is fundamental to a healthy democracy”, and that “politicians who benefit financially from organisations accused of undermining journalistic scrutiny must reflect on what message that sends”.

Ms Medi added that an independent investigation should be undertaken into the affair, and that Josh Simons, the Cabinet Office minister who was head of Labour Together when the work into journalists was carried out, should “step aside as a minister in the meantime”.

Llinos Medi MP said:

“Labour Together was fined for repeated breaches of electoral law, and serious questions have been raised about its conduct towards journalists. That should concern anyone who believes in a free press.

“A free press is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Any organisation accused of undermining journalistic scrutiny strikes at the heart of that principle. Politicians who benefit financially from organisations accused of undermining journalistic scrutiny must reflect on what message that sends.

“Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons is now facing serious questions over a probe into journalists while running Labour Together. The Cabinet Office surely shouldn’t be allowed to investigate itself. An independent inquiry is needed, and he should step aside as a minister in the meantime.

“Wales deserves politics that embraces the freedom of the press to scrutinise politicians. If Welsh Labour MPs are confident in their commitment to transparency, they should have no hesitation in returning funds linked to an organisation mired in controversy.