Questions About Keir Starmer's Choices After Lord Doyle Appointment

Lord Doyle was appointed to the House of Lords, but it has come out that he had supported someone later found guilty of crimes. This has led to questions about how people are chosen for these important roles. Lord Doyle has apologized and lost his Labour party support.
By Newsroom | Politics, UK |

Fresh questions are being raised about Keir Starmer's judgment following the appointment of Lord Doyle to the House of Lords. The controversy stems from Lord Doyle's past support for a Labour councillor, Sean Morton, who was later convicted of offenses. This situation is drawing parallels to an earlier controversy involving Lord Mandelson and his association with Jeffrey Epstein, leading to renewed scrutiny of the Labour leader's vetting processes.

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  • Lord Doyle has had the Labour whip removed and apologized for his actions.

  • Senior figures within the Labour Party, including Lucy Powell and Anna Turley, have stated that Lord Doyle should not remain in the House of Lords.

  • The government is reportedly considering legislation to strip peerages, drawing parallels to actions considered for Lord Mandelson.

  • There are claims that information about Lord Doyle's association with Morton may have been public knowledge at the time of his nomination.

Background of the Doyle Controversy

The current issue centers on Lord Matthew Doyle, a former communications chief for Keir Starmer. In early December of last year, it was announced that Lord Doyle would be awarded a peerage. Subsequently, on December 27th, a report emerged highlighting his past support for Sean Morton, a Labour councillor who later admitted to offenses. This revelation led to Lord Doyle's removal from the Labour parliamentary party on January 8th, and he has since apologized for his past actions, stating he believed Morton's assertions of innocence before the judicial conclusion.

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  • Lord Doyle stated he supported Morton based on his claims of innocence.

  • He has apologized for what he termed a "clear error of judgment."

  • The Labour Party chairwoman, Anna Turley, has called for Lord Doyle to be stripped of his peerage.

  • Downing Street has indicated that the government may introduce legislation to remove peerages, a move also being considered for Lord Mandelson.

Scrutiny of Starmer's Judgment

The appointment of Lord Doyle has ignited significant debate regarding Keir Starmer's judgment, particularly in light of the earlier controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson. Some commentators suggest that the two situations share striking parallels, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of vetting processes within the Labour Party.

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  • Chris Mason noted the "curious spectacle" of two former directors of communications being at the center of public rows over appointments.

  • Allegations have been made that Lord Doyle's association with Morton was known when his peerage was announced.

  • Some MPs have reportedly accused the Labour leadership of appointing "paedophile apologists" and suggested the party operates as a "boys' club."

  • Keir Starmer has acknowledged the need to "eradicate structural misogyny and achieve cultural change" in response to these controversies.

Differing Perspectives on Lord Doyle's Peerage

While Keir Starmer has removed the Labour whip from Lord Doyle and acknowledged his former aide did not provide a "full account," the situation has become a point of contention with government figures and opposition parties. There are varying views on how to address the controversy, with calls for Lord Doyle's peerage to be revoked.

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Opposition and Government Stance

Opposition leaders, including the SNP's Stephen Flynn, have accused the Prime Minister of following a similar approach to the handling of the Lord Mandelson situation. The government, while not yet committing to stripping Lord Doyle of his peerage, has cited ongoing Labour investigations as a reason for caution. However, senior Labour figures, such as Lucy Powell and Lisa Nandy, have explicitly stated they would not have ennobled Lord Doyle given the available information.

  • Lucy Powell stated she would not have ennobled Lord Doyle if she had known about his ties to Morton.

  • Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Anna Turley also believe Lord Doyle should not remain a peer.

  • Downing Street has stated that stripping a peerage after its announcement has no precedent, but this is in the context of considering legislation for Lord Mandelson.

Lord Doyle's Apology and Explanation

Lord Doyle himself has issued a statement acknowledging his support for Morton and offering an apology. He explained that at the time of his campaigning, Morton repeatedly asserted his innocence, which Lord Doyle believed. He has since accepted that his continued support until the judicial conclusion was an "error of judgment."

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  • Lord Doyle confirmed he believed Morton's claims of innocence.

  • He stated his apology was unreserved for his "error of judgment."

  • Despite his apology, he has had the Labour whip withdrawn.

Expert Analysis

Commentators and political analysts are examining the implications of the Lord Doyle controversy for Keir Starmer's leadership. The repeated nature of vetting issues is leading to increased skepticism regarding the party's selection processes.

"This latest row has prompted fresh concerns within Labour about the prime minister's judgement, as there are striking parallels with the last one about Lord Mandelson." - Chris Mason, BBC Political Editor

"We are currently witnessing the curious spectacle of two men, both of whom have served as the prime minister's director of communications within the last year, on opposite sides of a public row over the controversial appointment of one of them to the House of Lords." - Chris Mason, BBC Political Editor

Labour's chairwoman Anna Turley stated, "Lord Doyle should not remain in the upper chamber."

Conclusion and Next Steps

The controversy surrounding Lord Doyle's appointment to the House of Lords has cast a shadow over Keir Starmer's judgment and raised serious questions about the Labour Party's vetting procedures. The situation is compounded by the earlier issues involving Lord Mandelson, creating a perception of recurring problems.

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  • Lord Doyle has been removed from the Labour parliamentary party and has apologized for his actions.

  • Senior Labour figures have publicly stated Lord Doyle should not remain in the House of Lords, creating a division with Downing Street's current stance on stripping peerages.

  • The government is considering legislation related to peerage removals, a move that appears to be partly influenced by the Lord Mandelson case.

  • The effectiveness of vetting processes for appointments remains a central concern, with accusations that potentially problematic associations were not adequately identified or disclosed.

  • The coming days will likely see further political pressure on Keir Starmer to address these concerns decisively and demonstrate a robust approach to vetting and candidate selection.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Lord Doyle?
Lord Doyle is a person appointed to the House of Lords. He used to be a helper for Keir Starmer.
Q: What is the problem with Lord Doyle?
Lord Doyle had supported a man named Sean Morton. Morton was later found guilty of crimes.
Q: What has happened to Lord Doyle?
Lord Doyle has apologized for his choice. He has lost his Labour party support and is no longer part of the Labour group in Parliament.
Q: Why are people talking about Keir Starmer?
People are asking if Keir Starmer made a good choice when he helped Lord Doyle get appointed. This reminds some people of an older problem with Lord Mandelson.
Q: What do other politicians think?
Some important people in the Labour party think Lord Doyle should not be in the House of Lords anymore. The government is thinking about new rules for taking away titles.