Sir Keir Starmer's former communications chief has voluntarily surrendered the Labour whip in the House of Lords after a significant controversy erupted over his past associations with a convicted paedophile. Matthew Doyle, who served as the Prime Minister's director of communications before departing Downing Street in March of last year, formally took his seat in the upper chamber in January.
Controversial Nomination and Past Campaigning
His appointment to the Lords faced considerable opposition due to his ties to former Labour councillor Sean Morton. Morton pleaded guilty in November 2017 to possessing indecent images of children, a conviction that has cast a long shadow over those connected to him.
It has now emerged that Mr Doyle actively campaigned for Morton during the May 2017 local elections, a period when Morton was running as an independent candidate. Crucially, this campaigning occurred after Morton had already been charged with child sex offences, though before his eventual guilty plea. The Labour Party had suspended Morton in late 2016 following his initial court appearance related to the indecent images.
A Public Apology and Admission of Error
In a detailed statement released on Tuesday, Lord Doyle issued a full apology for his past association with Morton. He described Morton's offences as "vile" and stated he completely condemns the actions for which Morton was rightly convicted.
"My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted by these crimes," Doyle said, emphasising the gravity of the situation. He explained that at the time of his campaigning support, Morton was repeatedly asserting his innocence to all who knew him, including in initial court proceedings.
Clear Error of JudgmentLord Doyle admitted that continuing to offer support before a judicial conclusion was reached represented a clear and significant error of judgment. "To have not ceased support ahead of a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly," he stated.
He acknowledged that he and others who took Morton at his word were clearly mistaken, stressing that he has never sought to dismiss or diminish the seriousness of the offences. "They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction," Doyle affirmed.
Limited Contact and Final Decision
The former spin chief clarified that any contact with Morton following the conviction was extremely limited, noting he has not seen or spoken to him in years. He described only incidental encounters at events organised by others and one welfare check after concerns were raised through third parties.
"I acted to try to ensure the welfare of a troubled individual whilst fully condemning the crimes for which he has been convicted and being clear that my thoughts are with the victims of his crimes," Doyle explained. Concluding his statement, he reiterated his remorse: "I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip."
For absolute clarity, he finished where he began, stating: "Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims." This decisive action marks a significant moment in Westminster, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of political appointments and past associations.
