SNP lodges motion to block Matthew Doyle’s peerage in Westminster over 2017 backing of councillor convicted of child abuse image possession
Ex-Labour Adviser Faces Peerage Controversy
An ex-Labour adviser who supported a councillor charged with child sex crimes may lose his peerage. The SNP has filed an early-day motion to prevent Matthew Doyle from taking his seat on Monday.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, called him “another crony with links to a sex offender.” He added, “Just as he has been silent on Peter Mandelson’s peerage, Keir Starmer is trying to hide from the public gaze when it comes to his friend Matthew Doyle.”
Early-day motions (EDMs) are non-binding but can highlight issues. In 2017, Mr. Doyle campaigned for Sean Morton, who later admitted to possessing child abuse images. Mr. Doyle has expressed regret about his involvement.
He stated he knew Morton through shared acquaintances and mentioned that he had “not seen him for years.”
No10 confirmed it had conducted an investigation. A spokeswoman stated, “Questions regarding Matthew Doyle’s past acquaintance with Sean Morton were thoroughly investigated. This included several interviews with Matthew Doyle, prior to his appointment.”
| Person | Role | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Doyle | Ex-Labour Adviser | Linked to Sean Morton |
| Sean Morton | Councillor | Charged with child sex crimes |
| Stephen Flynn | SNP Westminster Leader | Criticized Doyle |
