Starmer Says Peer Failed to Give Full Account Over Links to Convicted Sex Offender

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said a newly appointed Labour peer did not provide a full account of his past links to a convicted sex offender, as political pressure mounted during Prime Minister’s Questions.

The row centres on Matthew Doyle, a former communications chief to Starmer, who was granted a life peerage in December. It later emerged that Doyle had campaigned for Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor who admitted offences relating to indecent images of children in 2017.

During exchanges in the House of Commons, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged the prime minister over what he knew about Doyle’s past associations at the time of the appointment. She questioned why the peerage had proceeded after media reports highlighted Doyle’s involvement in campaigning for Morton following his arrest.

Starmer responded that Doyle had not given a full account of his actions when the nomination was made. He confirmed that he had removed the Labour whip from Doyle, meaning he no longer sits as a Labour peer in the House of Lords. The prime minister said he had promised change and was acting accordingly.

Doyle issued a statement earlier this week apologising for what he described as a clear error of judgement. He said that at the time of his campaigning support, Morton had repeatedly asserted his innocence, including during early court proceedings. Doyle acknowledged that he should have ceased support before the judicial process concluded.

The controversy follows separate criticism over Starmer’s appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, despite longstanding questions about Mandelson’s past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister has apologised to Epstein’s victims for believing Mandelson’s assurances about the extent of that relationship.

Badenoch accused Starmer of failing to take responsibility and said the episode was not isolated. She argued that the prime minister had been aware of media reporting before Doyle formally took his seat in the House of Lords in January.

Downing Street has indicated that there is no established process to withdraw a peerage nomination once it has been confirmed under the Life Peerages Act 1958. A spokesperson for the House of Lords said a peerage is created when letters patent are sealed, though it declined to comment on specific advice.

The government has said it is reviewing vetting and appointment procedures as part of broader reforms. Ministers insist that changes are intended to strengthen public confidence in standards in public life.