Labour Peer Suspended Over Friendship with Convicted Sex Offender
Matthew Doyle, who served as No 10's head of communications until March and was appointed to the House of Lords in December, has been suspended from the Labour whip. This action follows revelations about his association with Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor in Scotland convicted in 2018 for possessing indecent images of children.
Apology and Admission of Error
In a public statement, Doyle expressed remorse for his past links to Morton. He stated, "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 to support Morton before a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment, for which he apologised unreservedly.
Doyle explained that he had campaigned for Morton in 2016, after the councillor was charged and suspended by Labour. At the time, Morton maintained his innocence, and Doyle travelled to Scotland to support his independent candidacy, even wearing a top with the slogan "Re-elect Sean Morton". Morton later changed his plea to guilty in 2018, admitting to charges related to indecent images and extreme pornography, resulting in a community payback order and placement on the sex offender register.
Political Fallout and Denials
This incident adds to the embarrassment for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, coming amid ongoing controversy over Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has denied any prior knowledge of Doyle's relationship with Morton before granting him a peerage. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that neither Starmer nor his team were aware of Doyle's campaigning activities for Morton prior to the appointment.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, criticised Starmer, saying, "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. We won’t let this go."
Scottish Labour Involvement
In related developments, Scottish Labour has suspended the party whip from MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who resigned as education spokesperson in December after disclosures about her friendship with Morton. Duncan-Glancy announced she would step down from the Scottish parliament in May, stating, "While this has obviously been a very difficult decision, and it is the greatest honour of my life to represent Glasgow, I do not wish for a personal friendship to become a distraction."
SNP MSP Rona Mackay had previously called for Duncan-Glancy's suspension, accusing Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of hypocrisy. A Scottish Labour spokesperson responded, "All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures."
Doyle's Limited Contact and Future
Doyle emphasised that his contact with Morton has been extremely limited in recent years, with no direct communication. He mentioned seeing Morton once to check on his welfare after concerns were raised by others. Doyle concluded his statement by saying, "I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip." This suspension marks a significant setback in his political career, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of personal associations within UK politics.
