Starmer Declines to Deny Diplomatic Job Consideration for Former Aide
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to deny that Downing Street explored the possibility of securing a diplomatic position for his former communications chief, Lord Matthew Doyle. The revelation emerged during Prime Minister's Questions, where Sir Keir faced intense scrutiny over allegations of cronyism within his administration.
Bombshell Testimony from Sacked Official
The controversy stems from testimony given by Sir Olly Robbins, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, who told MPs on Tuesday that Number 10 had initiated discussions about potentially finding an ambassadorship for Lord Doyle. Sir Olly expressed discomfort with the suggestion, revealing he was asked to keep the talks secret from then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
"I felt quite uncomfortable about the suggestion," Sir Olly told MPs, adding that he had warned it would be "hard for me personally to defend." He said the proposal came shortly after he took over leading the Foreign Office in January last year, during departmental restructuring that threatened senior diplomats' jobs.
Prime Minister's Evasive Response
When directly asked whether he could deny that Downing Street had looked at giving Lord Doyle a diplomatic position, Sir Keir responded: "Matthew Doyle worked for many years in public service for me as Prime Minister and other ministers. When people leave roles in any organisation, there are often conversations about other roles they want to apply for, but nothing came of this."
The Prime Minister's carefully worded response did little to quell opposition criticism, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing him of presiding over "cronyism and an old boys' club."
Background of Controversy Surrounding Lord Doyle
The row over Lord Doyle comes against a backdrop of existing controversy. The peer had the Labour whip withdrawn earlier this year after it emerged he had campaigned on behalf of a friend, Sean Morton, who had been charged with possessing indecent images of children. Morton later admitted the offending.
Lord Doyle apologized for backing Morton before the case concluded, saying he had believed the paedophile's assertions of innocence. Sir Keir previously stated that his former aide "did not give a full account" of his ties to the convicted councillor when elevated to the House of Lords last December.
Denials and Demands for Inquiry
In a statement issued later on Tuesday, Lord Doyle insisted he had "never sought" an ambassador or equivalent leadership posting, and was unaware of anyone speaking to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office about such a role. "My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics," he stated.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey called for a Cabinet Secretary inquiry, describing the revelations as "completely shocking." He demanded answers about who initiated the conversations and whether the Prime Minister had knowledge of them.
Broader Pattern of Vetting Concerns
The Doyle controversy follows the Lord Mandelson scandal, which saw the former US ambassador quit Labour amid revelations about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Olly Robbins, who was effectively fired for not informing Sir Keir about Lord Mandelson's failed vetting checks, has alleged a "dismissive approach" toward security vetting from Number 10.
Downing Street has denied these allegations, with a spokesman stating they were "not aware of the detail" of private conversations between officials. The spokesman also refused to confirm whether Sir Keir had apologized to Mr. Lammy over claims that Sir Olly was instructed to conceal the alleged talks from him.
As pressure mounts on the Prime Minister's judgment regarding appointments, opposition critics continue to question the culture within his administration, with Tory spokespeople accusing Number 10 of repeatedly overriding proper processes to benefit political allies.
