Downing Street doesn’t know what Keir Starmer’s long-time communications chief has Campaigned for a pedophile When his companion declared, a minister said.
Matthew Doyle, who got off He was suspended from the Labor whip on Monday in his new role in the Lords, as No 10 head of communications last March, after it emerged he had campaigned on behalf of a friend charged with possessing indecent images of children.
Questions about the peerage overshadowed efforts to promote a multibillion-pound announcement on support for special educational needs on Wednesday, and continued pressure on Starmer over his own decision to make Peter Mandelson ambassador to Washington, despite his close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
When asked about Doyle’s peerage, Schools Minister Georgia Gould told Sky News: “No 10 people knew before the decision was made to give him a peerage.
The Sunday Times reported on December 27 that Downing Street had investigated Doyle’s continued support for Sean Morton after he was convicted of indecent child image offences, and Gould said the announcement was made on December 10.
“But because of his commitment to ensuring the highest standards in public life, I think the Prime Minister has taken a fresh look at it.”
Labor Party chair Anna Turley said on Tuesday that it was her “personal opinion” that Doyle’s peerage should be removed.
However, Gould refused to echo those calls, referring to an ongoing investigation by the party, and added: “We will wait until that is over. But the Prime Minister said on Monday night that we want to ensure the highest standards in public life.”
However, the vetting process for the appointments, she told Times Radio House of Lords The decision to remove the whip from the peer had to be changed in the background.
Then Doyle faced the pressure The Sunday Times His support for Morton was also reported in 2016 when the councilor was charged.
After Morton was charged with labor and suspended, Doyle insisted Morton was innocent, according to the paper. Scotland To support him as he stands as an independent wearing a top with the slogan “Re-elect Sean Morton”.
After the reports, Starmer wanted to revisit the issue and he and Downing Street said they were not aware Morton had campaigned for him before he was made a peer.
Meanwhile, the party whip has suspended Scottish Labor MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who resigned as education spokesman in December after revelations about her friendship with Morton.
In a statement, Doyle said: “I would like to apologize for my past association with Sean Morton. His crimes were despicable and I fully condemn the actions for which he was rightly punished. My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by these crimes.”
