PoliticsJOE Podcast Labour Together plot against journalists uncovered
9 snips
Feb 16, 2026 They unpack a story about a group commissioning probes into journalists and the £36,000 paid to a PR firm. Conversations explore possible links to security services and whether political donations and registrations were handled correctly. The hosts debate ethics, PR industry norms, and who inside the organisation should be held accountable.
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Paid Probe To Discredit A Journalist
- Labour Together paid APCO £36,000 to probe a Sunday Times journalist and try to discredit reporting as linked to Russia.
- The aim was to undermine scrutiny of secret donations and the group's role in Keir Starmer's rise.
Accusations Framed As Kremlin Connections
- The report allegedly suggested journalists had Russian links or used Kremlin-hacked emails to discredit them.
- Sean Hickey and others called this behavior akin to tactics used by authoritarian states and described it as 'insanity.'
Big PR Firm's Involvement Raises Questions
- APCO is a major global PR firm, so taking this commission surprised guests who expected bureaucratic oversight.
- Andy and Sean noted the work would have needed senior approval, making the decision more serious.