Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review

Brian Leishman Excerpts

Monday 23rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

I will happily mansplain it to the hon. Gentleman, if I may say so!

The independent adviser is independent, and the proper process will be followed. I remind the House that the reason that the process exists and that the ethics adviser is independent is that the previous Administration repeatedly failed to deal with ethics issues properly. The referral to the independent adviser has been done promptly, following fact finding, and he will report in due course.

[Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) (Lab)]

When the Prime Minister came to power, promising to clean up politics, he declared:

“Journalism is the lifeblood of democracy.”

We all know that Labour Together helped to mastermind the Prime Minister’s rise to the highest office in the land, and that it stands accused of running an orchestrated campaign to smear and discredit journalists. I think the Prime Minister should be here in this House answering questions, but my prediction is that that day will come. In the meantime, does the Minister agree with me and an ex-founder of Labour Together that this is some “dark shit”?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Leishman, you will withdraw that, won’t you?

[Brian Leishman]

I withdraw.

[Mr Speaker]

Stand up. I think I want a bit better—a bit more respect, please.

[Brian Leishman]

Please accept my apology, Mr Speaker. I withdraw the bad language.

[Darren Jones]

I think the question has been withdrawn, Mr Speaker.