Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney's think tank 'Labour Together' closes down after scandal

Labour Together, the organisation once led by Morgan McSweeney that propelled Sir Keir Starmer to power, has closed its doors after its reputation was trashed. The think tank became the headquarters of Labour “moderates” when left-winger Jeremy Corbyn was party leader. They plotted to regain control of the party, and eventually picked Sir Keir as their chosen leadership candidate.

Mr McSweeney was the think tank’s director. He led Sir Keir’s successful leadership campaign and later becoming Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, once Sir Keir was in Number 10. But Labour Together received a fine of £14,250 for over 20 breaches of electoral law while McSweeney was in charge. And its reputation plummeted when it emerged that, after McSweeney left and new Director Josh Simons took over, it employed firm APCO Worldwide to investigate how information about the donations reached the media.

APCO looked into the private affairs of several journalists, in what critics said was an attack on press freedom. Its report, codenamed “Operation Cannon”, included claims about a journalist who wrote the story and his faith, relationships and upbringing.

Josh Simons, now a Labour MP, resigned as a Government Minister once news of the investigation became public.

The think tank has now been replaced by a body called “Think Labour”. Rather than simply changing names, Think Labour insists it is a brand new organisation.

Chief Executive Alison Phillips, former editor of the Daily Mirror, said in an email message to supporters: “Today marks the launch of our unique political organisation dedicated to helping Labour govern confidently and win again.

“ThinkLabour has been created out of Labour Together - but this is much more than a new logo and a change of name.

“It is a new organisation, with new leadership, a renewed mission and a fundamentally different approach to what went before.”

Nick Forbes, former Newcastle City Council leader and a Labour member of the House of Lords, is the body’s chair. Lord Forbes Nick Ms Phillips will appoint a new board and advisory structure, and the body will publish what it calls its “first major report” looking at how Labour can win a future general election.