Novara Live Cabinet Minister Under Investigation Over Labour Together’s Journalist Smear Campaign
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Feb 16, 2026 Laura Webster, Editor of The National, is a reporter who led the paper’s investigation into APCO and Labour Together. She recounts how The National uncovered targeted smear reports and why Westminster press missed it. The conversation covers intimidation tactics used against independent journalists. They also discuss the wider political fallout and questions about accountability.
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Political PR Used To Smear Journalists
- Labour Together allegedly hired APCO to produce reports that aimed to discredit journalists investigating its funding.
- The reports made unsubstantiated claims linking journalists to Russia and attacked personal backgrounds to smear reputations.
Weaponising Cyber-Accusations Without Evidence
- APCO's Operation Cannon report alleged Kremlin involvement without cybersecurity analysis and included personal attacks on journalists.
- Labour Together circulated a version to GCHQ and used that referral to imply Russian links and discredit reporting.
Independent Journalists Targeted And Harassed
- The National revealed APCO investigated Paul Holden and Andrew Feinstein, probing private lives and funding ties.
- Holden received a fake-call probe and later reported it to police, illustrating targeted harassment.
