Labour Peer Loses Whip Over Friendship with Convicted Sex Offender
Matthew Doyle, the former head of communications at Number 10 Downing Street, has been suspended from the Labour whip in the House of Lords following revelations about his association with a convicted sex offender. Doyle, who served as Keir Starmer's longstanding communications chief and was appointed as a peer in December, issued a public apology for his links to Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor in Scotland.
Campaigning Support for Convicted Offender
According to reports from the Sunday Times, Doyle actively campaigned on behalf of Morton even after the councillor had been charged in 2016 with possession of indecent images of children. The newspaper detailed how Doyle travelled to Scotland to support Morton's independent election campaign, wearing a top emblazoned with the slogan "Re-elect Sean Morton." At the time, Doyle reportedly insisted on Morton's innocence, despite the serious charges he faced.
Morton ultimately lost the election and in 2018 pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent images of children, as well as an additional charge related to extreme pornography. He received a community payback order and was placed on the sex offender register.
Apology and Admission of Error
In his statement, Doyle expressed remorse for his actions, stating: "I want to apologise for my past association with Sean Morton. His offences were vile and I completely condemn the actions for which he was rightly convicted. My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted by these crimes."
Doyle acknowledged that continuing his support for Morton before a judicial conclusion represented "a clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly." He emphasised that he had "extremely limited" subsequent contact with Morton and had not seen or spoken to him in years, except for one occasion to check on his welfare after concerns were raised by others.
Political Fallout and Wider Implications
This development represents another embarrassment for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, coming amid ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has denied any prior knowledge of Doyle's relationship with Morton before appointing him to the peerage.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Starmer's handling of the situation, stating: "Keir Starmer handed a peerage to Matthew Doyle despite knowing about his ongoing friendship with a man charged with child sex crimes. The prime minister has now suspended the whip, but he must come clean about what he was told before making this appointment."
Scottish Labour Connection
The controversy extends to Scottish Labour, where MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has been suspended from the party whip following disclosures about her friendship with Morton. Duncan-Glancy, who stepped down as education spokesperson in December, announced she would quit the Scottish parliament in May, stating she did not wish for "a personal friendship to become a distraction."
SNP MSP Rona Mackay had previously called on Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to suspend Duncan-Glancy, criticising what she described as "hypocrisy and failure to act" regarding the MSP's connections to Morton.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson commented: "All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures."
Doyle concluded his statement by saying: "I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip," marking a significant fall from grace for one of Starmer's most trusted former aides.
