Lord Doyle Says Sorry for Knowing Sex Offender; Labour Stops Supporting Him

Lord Matthew Doyle has said sorry for his past connection to Sean Morton, who was found guilty of sex offences. Lord Doyle was a former communications chief for Keir Starmer. Labour has stopped supporting Lord Doyle in the House of Lords during an investigation.
By Newsroom | Politics, United Kingdom |

A peer and former communications chief for Keir Starmer, Lord Matthew Doyle, has apologised for his past association with Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor convicted of sex offences. Labour has suspended Lord Doyle from the party whip in the House of Lords while an investigation proceeds.

The situation involves Lord Doyle's appointment to the House of Lords in January and his prior advocacy for Sean Morton, who later pleaded guilty to charges related to indecent images of children. The news has prompted calls for transparency regarding the vetting process for his peerage.

Timeline of Events

  • November 2017: Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor, admitted to charges of possessing indecent images of children.

  • Prior to January [Year Unspecified]: Matthew Doyle, then director of communications in Downing Street, was reportedly interviewed multiple times by Number 10 regarding his past acquaintance with Sean Morton.

  • January [Year Unspecified]: Matthew Doyle was appointed to the House of Lords as Baron Doyle of Great Barford.

  • December 2023: Pam Duncan-Glancy, a Scottish Labour MSP, resigned as the party's education spokesperson due to details of her friendship with Sean Morton being revealed.

  • [Recent Date - within hours of reporting]: Lord Matthew Doyle apologises for his past association with Sean Morton. Labour suspends Lord Doyle from the party whip in the Lords.

Key Figures

  • Lord Matthew Doyle: Former director of communications for Keir Starmer. Appointed to the House of Lords in January.

  • Sean Morton: Former Labour councillor convicted of sex offences.

  • Keir Starmer: Leader of the Labour Party.

  • Kemi Badenoch: Government minister calling for disclosure of vetting processes.

  • Pam Duncan-Glancy: Scottish Labour MSP who resigned from a spokesperson role over her friendship with Morton.

Evidence and Statements

  • Lord Doyle's Apology: Lord Doyle has stated, "Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims." He also commented, "Sean Morton was maintaining his innocence at this time," and, "Sean Morton was someone I knew for a period through other shared acquaintances." He has further indicated, "I will not be taking the Labour whip."

  • Labour's Action: Labour announced that "the whip had been withdrawn from Lord Doyle while an investigation is carried out." They have suspended him from the party whip in the Lords, though not his party membership.

  • Number 10 Statement: A statement from Number 10 indicated that "Questions regarding Matthew Doyle's past acquaintance with Sean Morton were thoroughly investigated, including through several interviews with Matthew Doyle, prior to his appointment." It is understood that No. 10 was not aware of Lord Doyle campaigning for Morton at the time of his appointment.

  • Kemi Badenoch's Stance: Kemi Badenoch has urged the Prime Minister to "disclose vetting for ex-comms chief’s Lords appointment" and "explain the vetting of his former communications chief's links to a convicted paedophile before he was made a Lord."

Lord Doyle's Apology and Withdrawal of Whip

Lord Matthew Doyle, who previously served as Keir Starmer's communications chief, has publicly apologised for his association with Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor who has admitted to sex offences. This apology comes after Lord Doyle was suspended from the Labour whip in the House of Lords. Lord Doyle stated that Morton's crimes were "vile" and his sole concern is for the victims. He also mentioned that Morton was maintaining his innocence at the time Doyle knew him.

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Starmer's ex comms chief who was made Lord apologises for association with paedophile councillor - 1

Lord Doyle has apologised for his past ties to Sean Morton and confirmed he will not accept the Labour whip.

Background of Sean Morton's Conviction

Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor, pleaded guilty to charges related to indecent images of children. He admitted these charges in November 2017. The nature of Morton's crimes has been described as "vile."

Starmer's ex comms chief who was made Lord apologises for association with paedophile councillor - 2

Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor, was convicted of sex offences after admitting to possessing indecent images of children in November 2017.

Lord Doyle's Appointment and Vetting Process

Lord Doyle was appointed to the House of Lords in January. Reports indicate that Downing Street conducted investigations and interviews with Lord Doyle regarding his past connection to Sean Morton before his appointment. Despite these inquiries, the precise extent of the vetting and whether specific concerns were raised or dismissed remain subjects of scrutiny.

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Starmer's ex comms chief who was made Lord apologises for association with paedophile councillor - 3

Lord Doyle was appointed to the House of Lords in January after Number 10 reportedly investigated his past links to Sean Morton.

Calls for Transparency and Government Response

Minister Kemi Badenoch has called for the Prime Minister to explain the vetting procedures undertaken for Lord Doyle's peerage. The government's acknowledgement of the investigation prior to the appointment raises questions about the completeness of the process.

Starmer's ex comms chief who was made Lord apologises for association with paedophile councillor - 4

Kemi Badenoch is calling for the Prime Minister to clarify the vetting process that led to Lord Doyle's appointment to the House of Lords.

Impact on Labour Party and Individuals

The suspension of Lord Doyle from the Labour whip and the associated scrutiny create a challenging situation for the Labour Party, particularly given his former role with Keir Starmer. The case also highlights past issues within the party, such as the resignation of MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy over her friendship with Morton.

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Labour has suspended Lord Doyle from the party whip, and the situation has drawn attention to vetting procedures and past associations within the party.

Expert Analysis

There is no expert analysis available in the provided input data.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Lord Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with Sean Morton, a convicted sex offender, and has been suspended from the Labour whip. Labour is conducting an investigation into the matter. Simultaneously, calls for greater transparency regarding the vetting process for his peerage have been raised, notably by Kemi Badenoch, who is seeking an explanation from the Prime Minister. The precise outcome of Labour's investigation and any further actions regarding Lord Doyle's position in the House of Lords remain to be seen.

Sources:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Lord Doyle?
Lord Doyle is a member of the House of Lords and used to be a communications chief for Keir Starmer.
Q: What did Sean Morton do?
Sean Morton is a former Labour councillor who was found guilty of sex offences.
Q: Why did Lord Doyle apologise?
Lord Doyle apologised because he knew Sean Morton in the past.
Q: What has Labour done?
Labour has stopped giving Lord Doyle their support in the House of Lords while they look into the matter.
Q: What is being asked about Lord Doyle's appointment?
Some people want to know more about how Lord Doyle was checked before he was made a Lord.