Overview

• The Conservative Party released a 2021 email from Labour lawyer Gerald Shamash advising Morgan McSweeney to present Labour Together’s failure to report funds as an administrative error if detailed answers were unavailable.
• Conservatives called for the Electoral Commission and police to examine the episode, alleging authorities may have been misled over nearly £740,000 linked to the think tank.
• The Electoral Commission said it thoroughly investigated and sanctioned Labour Together in 2021 and is considering the information shared by the Conservatives.
• Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the prime minister has full confidence in his chief of staff and expects him to stay, describing the renewed focus as political targeting.
• Labour Together was fined £14,250 for more than 20 breaches after almost £740,000 in donations were reported late, a lapse identified by McSweeney’s successor; the correspondence also notes no watchdog record of McSweeney’s claimed 2018 call asserting donations need not be declared.