Keir Starmer's anti-corruption champion has defended secret attempts by Downing Street to secure a plum diplomatic posting for the Prime Minister's former spin chief, Matthew Doyle. Baroness Hodge argued there was 'nothing wrong' with people helping their friends find work, amid claims that No10 pressured the Foreign Office to find a role for Doyle.
Allegations of Pressure and Secrecy
Sacked mandarin Sir Olly Robbins, a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, told MPs that No10 initiated 'several discussions' about making Lord Doyle an ambassador. He said he 'felt quite uncomfortable' with the suggestion and was asked to keep it from then-foreign secretary David Lammy, warning it would be 'hard for me personally to defend'.
Lord Doyle has denied any knowledge of lobbying for an ambassadorship or 'any equivalent leadership-type posting'. Although he never received an ambassadorship, he was granted a peerage last year but later suspended from Labour over links to a convicted paedophile.
Defence and Criticism
Speaking on BBC's Newsnight, Baroness Hodge criticised officials for keeping the request secret from Mr Lammy but added: 'If somebody you're working with is about to lose their job, there's nothing wrong, I think, in saying, are there any other jobs available, as long as he could apply for them through due process.'
Asked if this was not 'cronyism', she replied: 'As long as the process for appointment is fair, just, open, and proper, that's all right.'
Further Revelations
Sir Olly, a Whitehall veteran, said he was unsure 'who exactly was behind' the idea regarding Lord Doyle or 'how serious it was', but it was 'serious enough for No 10 private office to call the head of the diplomatic service and ask for a forward look of available head of mission jobs'. Former ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson was also consulted about a potential diplomatic role in Washington for Doyle.
Sir Olly said the suggestion came shortly after he took over leading the Foreign Office in January last year, during restructuring talks that put senior diplomats at risk of losing their jobs.
Political Reaction
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Lord Doyle would not have been an 'appropriate' choice, adding: 'I am, of course, extremely concerned at any suggestion that the permanent secretary of the Foreign Office would be told not to inform the Foreign Secretary.'
A Labour MP told Politico's Playbook newsletter: '[It's] all about pushing through jobs for the boys, no matter what they've done.'
Lord Doyle had the Labour whip withdrawn earlier this year after it emerged he campaigned on behalf of a friend charged with possessing indecent images of children. He apologised, saying he believed the paedophile's assertions of innocence before the friend later admitted the offending. Doyle stepped down as the Prime Minister's communications chief last March.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden squirmed when pressed on whether Sir Keir personally pushed the Foreign Office to make Doyle an ambassador, admitting he had not asked No10 before defending the Government's position.
In a statement, Lord Doyle said: 'I have never sought any head of mission, ambassador or any equivalent leadership-type posting. I was never aware of anyone speaking to the FCDO about such a role for me. My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics.'
