Prime Minister Confirms Lord Doyle Failed to Provide Full Disclosure in Peerage Controversy
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly stated that his former communications chief, Lord Matthew Doyle, did not give a full account of his actions when he was appointed to the House of Lords, despite his connections to a paedophile councillor. This revelation comes amid a growing political scandal that has raised serious questions about the Prime Minister's judgment and the vetting processes for peerages.
Background of the Controversy
Lord Doyle recently had the Labour whip removed after his links to Sean Morton, a Moray councillor, came to light. Morton was charged in late 2016 over indecent images of children, and Lord Doyle campaigned for him in May 2017 when Morton ran as an Independent, despite the ongoing legal proceedings. Morton later admitted to possessing the images, leading to his suspension from Labour.
In his apology, Lord Doyle expressed that he had believed Morton's assertions of innocence at the time and had extremely limited contact with him after the conviction. He apologised unreservedly for supporting Morton before the case concluded, but this has done little to quell the uproar.
Political Fallout and Accusations
During Prime Minister's Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of being aware of Lord Doyle's association with Morton when the peerage was confirmed. Badenoch pointed out that The Sunday Times reported on this association in late December, after the appointment was announced, yet Lord Doyle was still sworn into the Lords in January.
Despite the Prime Minister knowing this, he gave Doyle a job for life in the House of Lords anyway, Badenoch asserted, highlighting what she sees as a lapse in ethical oversight. In response, Sir Keir emphasised his commitment to change, stating, On Monday I promised my party and my country there will be change. And yesterday I removed the whip from Matthew Doyle.
Government and Labour Responses
A Government source noted that there is no established precedent for withdrawing a peerage nomination after the announcement stage, suggesting procedural hurdles in revoking the appointment. However, this has not stopped calls for action, including from Labour's chairwoman Anna Turley, who has urged Sir Keir to strip Lord Doyle of his peerage.
The scandal adds to a tumultuous period for Sir Keir's premiership, which has recently faced:
- Two departures from Downing Street
- A call from the Scottish Labour leader for his resignation
- Controversy over Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, due to his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
Broader Implications and Ongoing Scrutiny
This peerage row underscores deeper issues within political appointments and transparency. No 10 has stated it was not aware of Lord Doyle's campaigning for Morton at the time of his Lords appointment, but the incident has sparked debates about due diligence and accountability in the honours system.
As the situation develops, it remains a focal point for critics questioning Sir Keir's leadership and the integrity of peerage selections, with potential long-term effects on public trust and political stability.
