Starmer Confirms Lord Doyle Withheld Details Before Receiving Peerage
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly acknowledged that his former communications chief, Lord Matthew Doyle, failed to provide a complete account of his actions prior to being elevated to the House of Lords. This admission comes amid a growing scandal involving Lord Doyle's connections to a paedophile councillor, which has triggered significant backlash within the Labour Party.
Mounting Criticism from Labour MPs
The controversy has intensified as female Labour MPs express profound anger and frustration over the situation. One MP described feeling "furious at what has emerged over the last few days", while another condemned the decision to grant Lord Doyle a peerage as showing "a huge level of disrespect to victims everywhere". These sentiments were voiced ahead of a critical meeting between Sir Keir and the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party, where the Prime Minister was expected to face further scrutiny.
Background of the Scandal
Lord Doyle was suspended by the Labour Party on Tuesday following revelations about his association with Sean Morton, a Moray councillor who had been charged with possessing indecent images of children. Despite these links becoming public in January through reports in the Sunday Times, Lord Doyle was sworn into the House of Lords that same month, having been announced as a peer in December.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of being aware of Lord Doyle's ties to Morton at the time of his appointment. In response, Sir Keir stated, "Matthew Doyle did not give a full account of his actions. On Monday I promised my party and my country there will be change. And yesterday I removed the whip from Matthew Doyle."
Questions Over Leadership Judgement
The scandal has drawn parallels to the earlier Peter Mandelson controversy, which led to the resignation of Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and severely tested his premiership. Critics argue that the Labour leadership's decision-making is under question, with one MP noting, "They knew about Mandelson and Epstein when they hired him and they knew about Doyle and Morton when they put him in the Lords - so you have to question their judgement."
Sir Keir faced multiple inquiries about Lord Doyle during a meeting of the full Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, yet the whip was not withdrawn until Tuesday, raising further concerns about the timing and handling of the situation.
Political Fallout and Future Implications
The ongoing row has overshadowed Sir Keir's efforts to recover from what has been described as the toughest day of his premiership so far. With internal dissent growing and public trust potentially at stake, the Prime Minister's ability to manage crises and maintain party unity is being critically examined. The suspension of Lord Doyle marks a significant step, but the broader implications for Labour's governance and ethical standards remain a pressing issue as the party navigates this challenging period.
