APCO Worldwide, a public affairs firm, was hired by the Labour-aligned think tank Labour Together to investigate a series of journalists following leaks over the think tank's undisclosed funding. The think tank, led by Morgan McSweeney from 2017 to 2020, paid more than £30,000 for the investigation. News of the investigation was revealed a few days before McSweeney's departure from Downing Street. Exact details were, at the time, unknown. All that was revealed was that Labour Together had paid APCO to investigate a series of leaks and journalists. However, details of the investigation have now been revealed. Sources speaking to both the Sunday Times and the BBC have confirmed the details as mentioned in the report. It was found that one of the journalists under investigation by APCO Worldwide, Gabriel Pogrund, was the target of a religious and ideological investigation, with the firm focusing on his Jewish beliefs. It is also claimed that Pogrund's previous reporting, particularly on the Royal Family, could have been done from a pro-Russia standpoint, and thus contribute to the destabilisation of the United Kingdom. The report itself was commissioned by Josh Simons, who now sits as a junior minister in the Cabinet Office. The current CEO of Labour Together, Alison Phillips, said "I am committed to ensuring Labour Together aspires to the highest standards of probity at all times." Labour Together was largely responsible for removing Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader in 2020 and shifting the party back to the centre ground through installing Keir Starmer as leader. Influential voices within the party, such as Simons and McSweeney, both held key roles within the organisation. The situation thus raises important questions as to what extent senior figures within the party knew of these dealings. Many individuals within Labour have called for an inquiry into the investigation. Karl Turner, the Labour MP for East Hull, wrote on X that "Plausible deniability is only plausible until it isn't" referring to the lack of knowledge of the operation from figures near the top of the party. A spokesperson for APCO Worldwide said that "We are deeply committed to upholding our values and standards as an organisation and treat any suggestion that we have failed to do so very seriously." They added "We are in the process of undertaking a detailed internal review of the project. We are also in discussion with the PRCA, of which we are longstanding members, and will fully support them in their own review of this matter." It has since been revealed that the Cabinet Office will launch an inquiry into Labour Together's investigation, and APCO Worldwide's role within it....