Keir Starmer‘s woes deepened today amid claims he went ahead with a peerage for his ex-communications chief despite knowing about his ties to a paedophile councillor.
Fresh doubts have been raised about the PM’s judgment after Labour removed the whip from Lord Matthew Doyle last night over his links to Sean Morton.
He has apologised for campaigning for Morton in 2017 – after the latter had been charged over indecent images of children – saying he believed his friend’s assertions of innocence.
Party chair Anna Turley is calling for Lord Doyle to be kicked out of the Upper House, insisting he did not tell the truth before being elevated by Sir Keir.
No 10 is adamant Lord Doyle’s actions were not known when the peerage was announced on December 10 last year.
However, there are mounting questions about the timeline, with the Sunday Times having claimed that No 10 looked into the issues beforehand.
The paper ran a front-page story on December 28 laying out the allegations. But Lord Doyle’s peerage was still formalised – posted in the London Gazette – on January 8.
Fresh doubts have been raised about the PM’s judgment after Labour removed the whip from Lord Matthew Doyle (pictured) last night over his links to Sean Morton
In echoes of the Mandelson scandal that brought Sir Keir to the brink of disaster, the PM’s allies have been blaming the vetting system for letting him down.
Asked about the situation during a tour of broadcast studios this morning, education minister Georgia Gould said: ‘I think the decision, the announcement was made on December 10. I think the story was later in the month.
‘But I think the Prime Minister has looked at this afresh, given the commitment that he has made to ensure the highest standards in public life.’
Ms Turley told Sky News last night that ‘what we’d been told was not the truth when that decision was made’ in reference to Lord Doyle’s appointment as a peer.
Asked if he should remain a Lord, she said: ‘No, I don’t think he should. That’s my personal view.
‘And just like with Peter Mandelson … we’re going to be making it easier for people who have particularly undertaken criminal offences to be removed from the Lords.
‘We don’t have that power at the moment. He’s not committed a criminal offence, but you know … I just think people who have got this kind of record or have not been clear and transparent, there’s no place for them in the Lords.’
In an earlier statement, Lord Doyle apologised ‘unreservedly’ for supporting Moray councillor Morton before the case against him had concluded.
He said he also had ‘extremely limited’ contact with Morton after his conviction.
He said: ‘I want to apologise for my past association with Sean Morton.
‘His offences were vile and I completely condemn the actions for which he was rightly convicted. My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted by these crimes.
‘At the point of my campaigning support, Morton repeatedly asserted to all those who knew him his innocence, including initially in court. He later changed his plea in court to guilty.
‘To have not ceased support ahead of a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly.’
The Scottish National Party had objected to Lord Doyle’s peerage and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called on Sir Keir to publish ‘vetting advice and due diligence’ reports provided before his appointment to the Lords.
Labour had suspended Morton after he appeared in court in connection with indecent child images in late 2016.
Lord Doyle campaigned for Morton when he ran as an Independent in May 2017.
Morton admitted having indecent images of children in November 2017.
Lord Doyle said: ‘Those of us who took him at his word were clearly mistaken. I have never sought to dismiss or diminish the seriousness of the offences for which he was rightly convicted.
‘They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction.
‘Following his conviction any contact was extremely limited and I have not seen or spoken to him in years.
‘Twice I was at events organised by other people, which he attended, and once I saw him to check on his welfare after concerns were raised through others.
In echoes of the Mandelson scandal that brought Sir Keir to the brink of disaster, the PM’s allies have been blaming the vetting system for letting him down
‘I acted to try to ensure the welfare of a troubled individual whilst fully condemning the crimes for which he has been convicted and being clear that my thoughts are with the victims of his crimes. I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip.
‘For the avoidance of any doubt, let me conclude where I started. Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims.’
Labour said the whip had been withdrawn from Lord Doyle while an investigation is carried out.
A Labour spokesman said: ‘All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures.’
Tory leader Mrs Badenoch said: ‘Keir Starmer handed a peerage to Matthew Doyle despite knowing about his ongoing friendship with a man charged with child sex crimes.
‘The Prime Minister has now suspended the whip, but he must come clean about what he was told before making this appointment. We won’t let this go.’
