A Labour think tank, Labour Together, commissioned a controversial report that delved into the personal and religious background of a Sunday Times journalist, Gabriel Pogrund. The report, titled 'Operation Cannon', was prepared by a former Sunday Times employee now working for APCO Worldwide, a US public affairs firm. The investigation, which cost Labour Together at least £30,000, aimed to uncover the origins and funding of a story about undeclared donations at the think tank. However, sources revealed that the report went beyond its scope, including sensitive information about Pogrund's Jewish beliefs and ideological leanings. It also made claims that Pogrund's reporting on the royal family could be seen as destabilizing to the UK and aligned with Russia's strategic interests. The report was commissioned by Josh Simons, now a Cabinet Office minister, and was initially addressed to him. Simons expressed shock and surprise at the inclusion of unnecessary information about Pogrund, which he promptly removed before passing the report to GCHQ. The National Cyber Security Centre received a redacted version of the report, with Pogrund's details removed due to concerns about the hack. Labour Together's CEO, Alison Phillips, pledged to uphold the highest standards of probity and support the PRCA's review of the issue. This incident has sparked concerns among Labour MPs, with Karl Turner and John McDonnell calling for an independent inquiry into the claims.
