Labour chairwoman: Lord Doyle should lose peerage over ties to paedophile

Anna Turley has suggested Sir Keir Starmer’s former communications chief had not told the truth before being elevated to the House of Lords.

The Labour Party’s chairwoman has called for Sir Keir Starmer’s former communications chief to be stripped of his peerage over his ties to a paedophile councillor.

Anna Turley suggested Lord Matthew Doyle had not told the truth before being elevated to the Lords.

Lord Doyle has apologised after having the Labour whip removed over his links to Sean Morton, who he campaigned for in 2017 after he had been charged over indecent images of children.

Lord Doyle said he believed Morton’s assertions of innocence at the time, but the councillor later admitted having the images.

It is understood No 10 was not aware Lord Doyle had campaigned for Morton at the time of his appointment.

Labour chairwoman Ms Turley told Sky News that “what we’d been told was not the truth when that decision was made” in reference to Lord Doyle’s appointment as a peer.

Asked if he should remain a Lord, she said: “No, I don’t think he should. That’s my personal view.

“And just like with Peter Mandelson … we’re going to be making it easier for people who have particularly undertaken criminal offences to be removed from the Lords.

“We don’t have that power at the moment. He’s not committed a criminal offence, but you know … I just think people who have got this kind of record or have not been clear and transparent, there’s no place for them in the Lords.”

In an earlier statement, Lord Doyle apologised “unreservedly” for supporting Moray councillor Morton before the case against him had concluded.

He said he also had “extremely limited” contact with Morton after his conviction.

He 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.”

The Scottish National Party had objected to Lord Doyle’s peerage and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called on Sir Keir to publish “vetting advice and due diligence” reports provided before his appointment to the Lords.

Lord Doyle took his place in the upper chamber in January.

Labour had suspended Morton after he appeared in court in connection with indecent child images in late 2016.

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

Morton admitted having indecent images of children in November 2017.

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.”

Labour said the whip had been withdrawn from Lord Doyle while an investigation is carried out.

A Labour spokesman said: “All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures.”

Tory leader Mrs Badenoch said: “Keir Starmer handed a peerage to Matthew Doyle despite knowing about his ongoing friendship with a man charged with child sex crimes.

“The Prime Minister has now suspended the whip, but he must come clean about what he was told before making this appointment. We won’t let this go.”