Sir Keir Starmer has publicly admitted that his former spin doctor, Matthew Doyle, was indeed considered for a prestigious ambassador role, following explosive revelations from the sacked Foreign Office chief, Olly Robbins. The prime minister faced intense scrutiny during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, where he confirmed that discussions had taken place about Doyle's potential appointment, though he emphasised that nothing ultimately materialised from these conversations.
Bombshell Testimony Sparks Political Firestorm
In a dramatic session before the Commons Foreign Affairs committee on Tuesday, Sir Olly Robbins disclosed that Number 10 had actively pushed for a diplomatic position for Lord Doyle, who previously served as Sir Keir's communications chief. Robbins revealed he was instructed to keep this lobbying secret from the then-foreign secretary, David Lammy, a directive that left him feeling "quite uncomfortable." This testimony has ignited a fierce political debate, with opposition figures accusing the government of cronyism and undermining proper diplomatic protocols.
Tory Leader Launches Scathing Attack
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched a blistering assault on Sir Keir during the parliamentary session, accusing him of betraying promises of probity and integrity. "He promised them probity," Badenoch declared to the Commons. "What he's given them is cronyism and an old boys' club where Matthew Doyle is being proposed as an ambassador. It's ridiculous." Her comments underscored the deepening partisan divide over the government's appointment processes and transparency standards.
Foreign Secretary Expresses Serious Concerns
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has voiced "extreme concern" over the allegations surrounding Doyle's potential appointment. Cooper stated unequivocally that Lord Doyle would not have been an "appropriate" candidate for such a sensitive diplomatic role. Her intervention highlights the internal tensions within government ranks regarding the propriety of the proposed appointment and the secretive manner in which it was allegedly handled.
Doyle's Controversial Background and Subsequent Peerage
Although Matthew Doyle was not ultimately appointed to the ambassador position, he was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords. However, his tenure as a peer was short-lived, as he was stripped of the Labour whip just weeks later due to his connections with convicted paedophile Sean Morton. Doyle has since apologised for campaigning for Morton before the legal case had concluded, claiming he believed Morton's assertions of innocence at the time.
Starmer's Defence and Dodged Questions
During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer attempted to downplay the significance of the discussions about Doyle's potential role. "When people leave roles in any organisation, there are often conversations about other roles they want to apply for, but nothing came of this," he stated. However, he notably dodged direct questions from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey about whether he was aware of Number 10's efforts to secure a diplomatic position for Doyle, whom Davey described as "another Labour crony."
Broader Context of the Mandelson Scandal
The revelations about Doyle's potential appointment come against the backdrop of the ongoing Peter Mandelson scandal. Sir Olly Robbins was sacked last week after it emerged he failed to inform Sir Keir that security vetting officials had recommended against Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, despite Mandelson being cleared for the role. Robbins told MPs there had been a "dismissive approach" to vetting from Number 10 and an "atmosphere of pressure" to expedite Mandelson's posting to Washington.
Starmer Claims Vindication Amid Mounting Pressure
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Robbins' testimony "puts to bed all the allegations" regarding dishonesty in the Mandelson appointment process. "Yesterday, (Sir Olly) was asked if he shared that decision with me, No 10 or any other ministers. He gave a clear answer: no," Starmer asserted. Despite this, he faces mounting pressure to take responsibility for the controversies, with Badenoch directly challenging him to resign over what she characterised as a failure of due process.
The prime minister has firmly rejected calls for his resignation, maintaining that proper procedures were followed. However, the dual scandals involving Doyle and Mandelson have cast a long shadow over his administration's commitment to transparency and ethical governance, raising fundamental questions about the influence of personal connections in high-level diplomatic appointments.
