Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour), on Monday, 23 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 29 members in total.

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Surveillance and political intimidation of journalists

That this House recognises the vital importance for press freedom of investigative journalists being able to report the truth without fear or favour, and to protect the identity of their sources; is concerned by media reports that the organisation Labour Together commissioned public relations agency APCO Worldwide to identify the sources of journalists investigating the organisation's funding, and gain what was described as leverage over their reporting; agrees with the National Union of Journalists that such surveillance and political intimidation of journalists is wrong, whether conducted by states or non-state actors; is worried about the apparent ability of commercial organisations marketing and selling services aimed at the surveillance of journalists for the purposes of intimidation; and calls for an independent investigation of the methods employed by Labour Together and its external contractors, and for stricter legislation to prohibit private entities from gathering or purchasing data on journalists for the purpose of identifying sources.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

2825 

Session

2024-26

Other sponsors

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Jeremy Corbyn

Liz Saville Roberts

Ian Byrne

Subjects

Journalism Press freedom Surveillance ThinkLabour

Link

View this Early day motion on edm.parliament.uk