Who / What
Josh Simons is a British Labour Party politician. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Makerfield in 2024 and has since held junior ministerial roles in the UK government. Simons is active in digital policy through his appointment as Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State for Digital Government.
Background & History
Born on 24 July 1993, Simons entered politics at a young age and joined the Labour Party during his teenage years. He contested the Makerfield seat in the 2024 general election and won, becoming an MP in his early thirties. In 2025 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, marking the first ministerial role of his career. On 9 January 2026 he moved to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State for Digital Government.
Why Notable
Simons’ swift rise to ministerial office makes him one of the youngest legislators to hold a junior cabinet position. His work in the Cabinet Office involved coordinating cross‑departmental initiatives, while his role in digital government places him at the forefront of technology policy in the UK. Additionally, he founded the think‑tank Labour Together, which has influenced Labour Party strategy on digital and innovation issues.
In the News
In early 2026, Simons was placed under investigation by British authorities for allegedly reporting journalists who published an article critical of Labour Together. He is accused of providing names to intelligence services and falsely linking the journalists to pro‑Russian propaganda. The investigation has drawn attention to issues of state‑media relations and the use of governmental resources to target press coverage.
