Starmer latest: PM faces fresh furore over judgement after paedophile-linked former comms chief suspended from Labour
Lord Matthew Doyle is the latest in a string of high-profile resignations from the party
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh wave of furore after Labour peer and ex-communications chief Lord Matthew Doyle was suspended from the Labour Party over his past association to a paedophile councillor.
Lord Doyle had the Labour whip removed after he campaigned for former Labour councillor Sean Morton in May 2017. Morton admitted having indecent images of children in November 2017.
In a statement, the peer said Morton’s crimes were “vile” and that “my only concerns are for his victims”.
It is the latest in a string of departures to rock the Labour Party after Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and director of communications Tim Allan both quit in a turbulent last 48 hours.
Hours earlier, the prime minister insisted he will “never walk away from the country I love” in a defiant hit back over leadership speculation and Labour infighting following the Mandelson-Epstein scandal.
The prime minister issued fighting words during a community visit in Hertfordshire, saying the “real fight is not in the Labour Party” but with right-wing politics.
Member of Scottish parliament loses whip over reported friendship with paedophile
Pam Duncan-Glancy, a member of Scottish parliament, has had the Labour whip suspended over her alleged friendship with paedophile former councillor Sean Morton, according to Sky News.
A Labour spokesperson told the broadcaster: “All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures.”
It follows Lord Matthew Doyle’s suspension earlier this evening.
She had previously resigned from the Labour front bench in Holyrood.
The Independent has contacted Ms Duncan-Glancy for comment.
How Mandelson appointment nearly cost Starmer his job as UK prime minister
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced the biggest crisis of his leadership because of his decision to appoint a close ally of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the plum job of U.K. ambassador to the United States.
Many warned him not to appoint Peter Mandelson, a 72-year-old grandee of the Labour Party, to the job. Starmer, who never met Epstein, accepts that Mandelson's appointment was a mistake, and has apologized to Epstein's victims as well as to Labour and the country as a whole.
Starmer remains in office, but questions remain as to how long he can do so.
How one appointment nearly brought the demise of the prime minister:
How Mandelson appointment nearly cost Starmer his job as UK prime minister
Who is Matthew Doyle? Labour peer and ex-communications chief steps down
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.
Downing Street admitted last year that Mr Doyle’s links with Morton were “thoroughly investigated” before he was nominated for a peerage, with several interviews taking place with Mr Doyle himself.
Lord Doyle, who worked for Sir Keir in opposition and entered Downing Street with him in 2024, campaigned for Morton when he ran as an independent in May 2017 – four months after Morton had appeared in court charged in connection with indecent child images.
He retains his peerage despite being stripped of the party whip. Lord Doyle has since revealed that he, too, had kept in contact with Morton, even after he was convicted.
Ministers warned not to follow Streeting and publish Mandelson messages
Sir Keir Starmer has told ministers they should be “acting together” after they were warned not to follow Wes Streeting in publishing messages with Peter Mandelson amid a police investigation into alleged misconduct in a public office.
In a message to officials, the Cabinet Office is understood to have told members of Government that they should not share material that could be covered by a Commons motion forcing the release of documents relating to the peer’s appointment as US ambassador.
Scotland Yard warned that it is “vital due process is followed” so as not to jeopardise its probe following accusations the peer passed market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein in the 2000s.
On Monday the health secretary shared a transcript of messages, dated from August 2024 to October 2025 in which he said Labour had no growth strategy and referred to Israel as a “rogue state”.
Full story: Starmer plunged into fresh crisis as paedophile-linked peer and former comms chief suspended from Labour
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:
Starmer faces new crisis as paedophile-linked former comms chief suspended by Labour
Minister 'proud' of Starmer handling of Mandelson scandal
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.”
Analysis: Starmer’s ‘put up or shut up’ message to his rivals is overshadowed by a new scandal
Keir Starmer is a prime minister who cannot catch a break, even as he breaks cover to launch a fightback to save his premiership.
Moments after he delivered a “put up or shut up” message to his critics and rivals in a moment of defiance over his future as prime minister, news broke that Lord Matthew Doyle, the man he chose as his first director of communications and then personally appointed to the Lords, has been suspended by Labour over links to a paedophile.
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:
Starmer’s ‘put up or shut up’ message to his rivals is overshadowed by a new scandal
‘I would pack Starmer’s suitcase for him’: Disdain for Labour unites Gorton and Denton ahead of crucial by-election
Away from internal bickering and scandal, Labour are gearing up to fight a crucial by-election in Gorton and Denton.
The seat was previously held by Andrew Gwynne, who retired on health grounds, a year after the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal cost him the party whip.
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:
Disdain for Labour unites Gorton and Denton ahead of crucial by-election
Lord Doyle admits he had contact with Morton after sex offences conviction
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.”
Lord Doyle's statement in full as he quits Labour Party
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.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks