Sir Keir Starmer’s former communications chief has announced he will not take the Labour whip after issuing an apology for his past association with a councillor convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
Lord Matthew Doyle stated he would not join Labour peers in the House of Lords following scrutiny of his connection to Sean Morton, who admitted having indecent images of children in 2017. Doyle had campaigned for Morton when he ran as an Independent candidate in May that year.
The former Downing Street communications director acknowledged his failure to cease supporting Morton before a judicial conclusion represented a “clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Doyle stated: “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.”
The peer explained that Morton “repeatedly asserted to all those who knew him his innocence, including initially in court” before later changing his plea to guilty. Doyle admitted: “Those of us who took him at his word were clearly mistaken.”
He clarified his position on the convicted paedophile, stating: “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.”
Doyle revealed that contact following Morton’s conviction was “extremely limited” and he had not seen or spoken to him in years. He acknowledged attending events organized by others which Morton attended on two occasions, and once meeting him to check on his welfare after concerns were raised through third parties.
“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,” Doyle stated.
The announcement that he will not take the Labour whip means Doyle will sit as a crossbench peer rather than joining the Labour group in the House of Lords. The decision distances him from the party following the controversy over his association with the convicted councillor.
Doyle concluded his statement by reiterating: “Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims.”
The development adds to challenges facing the Prime Minister, who is already managing a leadership crisis over the Mandelson-Epstein scandal and recent resignations from his senior team. Doyle served as Starmer’s communications chief before receiving his peerage.
Morton’s conviction for possessing indecent images of children came later in 2017, months after Doyle provided campaign support during the May local elections. The councillor initially maintained his innocence before entering a guilty plea.
Lord Doyle’s decision not to take the Labour whip means he will operate independently in the House of Lords rather than aligning with the government party. Crossbench peers do not affiliate with any political party and vote according to individual judgment rather than party lines.
The peer’s statement represents an attempt to draw a line under the controversy whilst acknowledging mistakes in his handling of the situation following Morton’s initial denials and subsequent conviction.
