Downing Street has confirmed it was unaware of a senior aide's past association with a convicted paedophile when his peerage was granted, sparking fresh scrutiny of the appointments process to the House of Lords.
Minister Confirms Lack of Awareness
Schools Minister Georgia Gould stated unequivocally that Number 10 had no knowledge of Matthew Doyle's campaigning activities on behalf of Sean Morton when the decision was made to award him a peerage. Doyle, who served as Keir Starmer's communications chief until March last year, was suspended from the Labour whip in the Lords this week following revelations about his support for Morton.
"No 10 did not know before they made the decision to give him the peerage," Gould told Sky News during a broadcast interview. When pressed about reports that Downing Street had investigated Doyle's continued support for Morton after criminal charges were filed, Gould noted the peerage announcement preceded the newspaper revelations by several weeks.
Timeline of Events
The controversy centres on Doyle's actions in 2016 when Morton faced charges for possessing indecent images of children. According to Sunday Times reports, Doyle insisted on Morton's innocence during this period and actively campaigned for his re-election as an independent candidate in Scotland.
Gould emphasised that Prime Minister Starmer has "looked at this afresh" following the disclosures, reiterating his commitment to maintaining "the highest standards in public life." The minister declined to join calls for Doyle's peerage to be revoked, citing an ongoing Labour Party investigation that must conclude first.
Political Fallout and Wider Implications
The revelations have created significant political turbulence for the Labour government, overshadowing a major policy announcement about special educational needs funding worth billions of pounds. The controversy adds to existing pressure on Starmer regarding other appointments, particularly his decision to make Peter Mandelson ambassador to Washington despite Mandelson's connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Labour Party Chair Anna Turley has publicly stated her "personal view" that Doyle's peerage should be withdrawn, though Gould maintained the party would await the investigation's outcome before taking further action.
Doyle's Apology and Consequences
In a formal statement addressing the controversy, Matthew Doyle expressed regret for his past association with Sean Morton: "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 fallout extends beyond Doyle's situation, with Scottish Labour suspending the party whip from MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who resigned as education spokesperson in December following disclosures about her friendship with Morton.
Calls for Reform
Gould acknowledged that the vetting process for House of Lords appointments requires review in light of recent events. "The vetting process for appointments to the House of Lords had to change," she told Times Radio, indicating potential reforms to prevent similar situations arising in future.
The controversy raises fundamental questions about due diligence in political appointments and the mechanisms for ensuring those elevated to the peerage meet appropriate standards of conduct and judgment.
