Lord Doyle Issues Unreserved Apology Over Links to Convicted Paedophile Councillor
Lord Matthew Doyle, the former communications chief for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has issued a full public apology after having the Labour whip removed due to his past association with a paedophile councillor. The peer expressed deep regret for his support of Sean Morton, a former Moray councillor who was later convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
Campaign Support for Accused Councillor
Lord Doyle campaigned actively for Sean Morton in May 2017 when Morton ran as an Independent candidate. This political support occurred after Morton had already been charged in late 2016 with offences related to indecent images of children but before his eventual guilty plea in November 2017. At the time, Lord Doyle stated he believed Morton's repeated assertions of innocence, which the councillor maintained initially in court proceedings.
"To have not ceased support ahead of a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly," Lord Doyle declared in his formal statement. He emphasised that Morton's crimes were "vile" and "abhorrent," expressing that his thoughts remain with the victims and all those impacted by these serious offences.
Limited Contact After Conviction
The peer clarified that any contact with Morton following his conviction was "extremely limited" and consisted of just three encounters over several years. These included twice attending events organised by other people where Morton was present, and once checking on Morton's welfare 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," Lord Doyle explained, while acknowledging that those who took Morton at his word were "clearly mistaken." He confirmed he has not seen or spoken to Morton in years and will not be taking the Labour whip during the investigation period.
Political Fallout and Demands for Transparency
The controversy has sparked significant political repercussions, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling on Sir Keir Starmer to publish all vetting advice and due diligence reports provided before Lord Doyle's appointment to the House of Lords in January. Badenoch emphasised that "We won't let this go" and demanded full transparency about what the Prime Minister knew regarding Doyle's association with Morton before granting the peerage.
Labour has confirmed the whip has been withdrawn from Lord Doyle while a thorough investigation is conducted. A party spokesman stated: "All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures." The Scottish National Party had previously objected to Lord Doyle's peerage appointment, highlighting concerns about his associations.
It is understood that Number 10 was not aware of Lord Doyle's campaigning activities for Morton at the time of his appointment to the Lords. The Labour Party had suspended Morton from membership after his initial court appearance in late 2016, well before Lord Doyle's campaigning support in 2017.
Lord Doyle concluded his statement by reiterating: "For the avoidance of any doubt, let me conclude where I started. Morton's crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims." The case continues to raise questions about political vetting processes and associations with individuals facing serious criminal charges.
