Middlesbrough Lawmaker Calls For Independent Inquiry Into Political Group

Andy McDonald, the Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East in North Yorkshire, has joined a cross-party call for a fully independent investigation into a political group known as Labour Together. On February 22, 2026, the local representative expressed that an inquiry must be conducted outside of government oversight to ensure transparency regarding allegations of surveillance and smear campaigns against reporters.

The allegations involve claims that the political think tank paid a private firm, APCO Worldwide, £36,000 to compile files on journalists who were investigating the group’s financial sources. These documents allegedly included sensitive personal information, such as the religious beliefs and political backgrounds of the reporters involved. Supporters of the probe argue that these actions were intended to monitor and discredit those looking into the group’s funding.

The Middlesbrough lawmaker stated that a full investigation is necessary but argued that the government’s Cabinet Office should not lead the process. He noted that because many people previously involved in the management of the think tank are now serving in government roles, the department would essentially be investigating its own members. He emphasised that the probe must be entirely independent of government control to remain fair and objective.

The situation involves a government minister, Josh Simons, who is accused of providing false information about journalists to national security agencies while he was the director of the think tank. While the Prime Minister has ordered an internal ethics review, the call from the Middlesbrough representative highlights a demand for higher transparency in how political disputes are handled. This development follows a history of financial issues for the group, which was previously fined more than £14,000 for failing to declare £730,000 in donations.