Lord Doyle Snubs Labour Whip Over Child Abuse Scandal
Keir Starmer’s former comms chief, Lord Matthew Doyle, has rocked the political boat by refusing to take the Labour whip in the House of Lords. The fallout follows furious backlash over his links to a councillor convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
Doyle’s Ties to Convicted Councillor Spark Outrage
Doyle campaigned for Sean Morton, an Independent candidate caught out in 2017 for horrific child abuse offences. He admits he should have cut ties much earlier and calls it a “clear error of judgment” he “unreservedly” regrets.
Lord Doyle Issues Mea Culpa Over ‘Vile’ Crimes
“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,” Doyle said.
Doyle explained Morton had fiercely maintained his innocence—even in court—before eventually pleading guilty. This led to misplaced trust by Doyle and others. He insists he never downplayed the severity and has never questioned the conviction.
Distancing Himself: Crossbench, Not Labour
Post-conviction contact between Doyle and Morton was “extremely limited,” involving only a handful of encounters and a welfare check. In a blow to Labour chief Starmer, Doyle’s decision to sit as a crossbench peer means he’s officially stepping away from the party amid mounting controversy.
