Sir Keir Starmer's former communications chief, who was made a Lord by the Prime Minister, has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor after being stripped of the Labour whip.
Lord Matthew Doyle campaigned for ex Labour councillor Sean Morton when he ran as an Independent at local elections in May 2017, five months after he had first appeared in court charged in connection with child abuse image offences.
Morton admitted having indecent images of children in November 2017.
Lord Doyle 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 peer had the Labour whip removed on Tuesday.
It is understood that the Prime Minister was unaware Lord Doyle had campaigned with Morton, which was first reported by the Times, when he nominated him for a life peerage in December.
Lord Doyle worked for Sir Keir in opposition and was Downing Street director of communications from July 2024 until he quit in March 2025.
In recent days, Sir Keir has seen the departure of a two key aides - director of communications Tim Allan and chief of staff Morgan McSweeny - over the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Mr McSweeney stepped down on Sunday over his advice to appoint Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US despite his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch last week wrote to Sir Keir calling on him to publish "vetting advice and due diligence" received ahead of Lord Doyle’s elevation to the House of Lords and documents covering his association with Morton.
In his statement, 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."
