Labour minister Josh Simons resigns after falsely linking journalists to ‘pro-Kremlin’ network

Labour minister Josh Simons resigns after falsely linking journalists to ‘pro-Kremlin’ network

Makerfield MP has been under pressure over thinktank’s commissioning of PR firm to investigate reporters The Labour minister Josh Simons has resigned from the government after the Guardian revealed that he falsely linked reporters to a “pro-Kremlin” network in emails to GCHQ despite having claimed to be “surprised” and “furious” about a PR firm’s investigation into their journalism. Simons, who had been a Cabinet office minister, previously ran the thinktank Labour Together. He quit on Saturday, saying his position in office had become “a distraction from this government’s important work.”The Makerfield MP had faced mounting pressure over his role in Labour Together’s commissioning of the lobbying and public affairs agency APCO to investigate journalists reporting on the thinktank’s failure to disclose political donations. Continue reading...

Pakistan crash out of T20 World Cup despite victory against Sri Lanka

Pakistan crash out of T20 World Cup despite victory against Sri Lanka

Pakistan 212-8. Sri Lanka 207-6. Pakistan win by five runs New Zealand into semi-finals on net run-rate Pakistan went out of the T20 World Cup despite a five-run victory against Sri Lanka in the Group Two Super 8s match in Pallekele on Saturday. Their inferior net run rate meant Pakistan had to win convincingly against Sri Lanka in order to pip New Zealand and join group winners England in the semi-finals. Continue reading...