Starmer latest: PM faces fresh furore over judgement after paedophile-linked former comms chief suspended from Labour – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer’s fightback against an attempted Labour leadership coup has been overshadowed by a fresh scandal involving one of his closest former aides.

Labour announced on Tuesday evening that it had suspended Sir Keir’s former communications chief, Matthew Doyle, who the prime minister elevated to the House of Lords in December, over his links to a convicted paedophile, former councillor Sean Morton.

The latest development will raise fresh questions over Sir Keir’s integrity and judgment, with echoes of the Peter Mandelson scandal, which has already cost him his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney and brought his premiership to the brink of collapse.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox and Whitehall editor Kate Devlin report:

Baroness Chapman of Darlington told peers that it was a “bad decision” to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson to the position of US ambassador but that she was “proud” of Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the situation.

“It’s a bad decision,” she said on Tuesday.

“Now, when you make a bad decision in life, especially when you’re the Prime Minister, you’ve got a choice.

“Some prime ministers have stood at the despatch box in the other place (Commons) and told barefaced lies about it.

“Ours didn’t, and I’m proud of him for that.”

The latest chapter in this ongoing crisis for the prime minister, which comes as he tried to draw a line under the chaos within the party after the most turbulent day of his premiership so far, threatens to bring Starmer right back to the brink.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Away from internal bickering and scandal, Labour are gearing up to fight a crucial by-election in Gorton and Denton.

But voters now say they are considering moving away from the party and consider the choice to be between Reform and the Greens.

Reporter Dan Haygarth has been out and about in the constituency to speak to voters:

Lord Matthew Doyle has admitted he had contact with paedophile councillor Sean Morton after his conviction but that exchanges were “extremely limited”.

“Following his conviction any contact was extremely limited and I have not seen or spoken to him in years,” he said.

“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.”

He said the latter was because: “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.”

In his statement on the Sean Morton row, 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.

“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.”

Sir Keir Starmer nominated Lord Matthew Doyle for a peerage despite him having previously campaigned for a councillor charged with child sex offences.

Lord Doyle was nominated for a peerage by the prime minister in December.

Downing Street later admitted that Mr Doyle’s links with Sean Morton were “thoroughly investigated” before he was nominated for a peerage, with several interviews taking place with Mr Doyle himself.

Lord Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor and said he will not be taking the Labour whip in a shock statement on Tuesday afternoon.

Former Labour councillor Sean Morton admitted having indecent images of children in November 2017.

Lord Doyle campaigned for Morton when he ran as an Independent in May 2017.

Lord Doyle 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.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s former communications chief Lord Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor and said he will not be taking the Labour whip.

The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has this breaking story below: