Sir Olly Robbins, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has disclosed that Downing Street actively considered appointing Lord Matthew Doyle, Sir Keir Starmer's former communications chief, to an ambassadorial role. This revelation emerged during his testimony before MPs at the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he expressed significant discomfort with the proposal.
Uncomfortable Discussions and Secret Instructions
Sir Olly stated that shortly after he assumed leadership of the Foreign Office in January last year, No 10 initiated "several discussions" with him about potentially "finding a head of mission opportunity for Matthew Doyle." He admitted feeling "quite uncomfortable" about the suggestion, noting it was challenging to defend personally and professionally. At the time, the Foreign Office was undergoing departmental restructuring, putting senior diplomats at risk of losing their jobs.
Critically, Sir Olly revealed he was under "strict instruction not to discuss that with the then foreign secretary," which added to his unease. He remained uncertain about who exactly was behind the suggestion or how serious it was, but emphasized the difficulty of justifying Doyle's credentials for such a key diplomatic position while experienced diplomats faced uncertainty.
Broader Implications and Connections
The former senior civil servant also indicated that Lord Mandelson was consulted about the prospect of a role for Lord Doyle within the US diplomatic network. This suggests the interest from No 10 in securing a diplomatic post for Doyle was more widely known than initially realized. Sir Olly implied that relations with the United States could have been "damaged" if Mandelson had not become ambassador, highlighting the high stakes involved.
Lord Doyle, who stepped down as the Prime Minister's communications chief in March last year, had the Labour whip withdrawn earlier this year after it emerged he campaigned for a friend charged with possessing indecent images of children. The peer apologized, stating he believed the friend's assertions of innocence before the latter admitted guilt.
Mounting Pressure and Criticism
This controversy follows the Lord Mandelson scandal, where the former US ambassador quit Labour amid revelations about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Together, these incidents have intensified pressure on No 10, with critics questioning the Prime Minister's judgment, particularly regarding his decision to nominate Doyle for a peerage last December.
Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged that Doyle "did not give a full account" of his ties to the paedophile councillor when elevated to the House of Lords. Campaign group Mainstream responded to Tuesday's revelations, condemning a "culture of centralisation and patronage" at the top of Labour that enables "catastrophic mis-steps and undermining our relationship with the public."
In a statement, the group's interim council warned: "An already difficult set of elections may now become even harder for the hardworking Labour members and candidates out canvassing tirelessly before May." This underscores the political ramifications as Labour faces upcoming electoral challenges.
