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Sir Keir Starmer Nominate a former advisor noble This is despite him previously campaigning for a congressman accused of child sex crimes.
At the beginning of this month, downing street Announce Matthew Doylewho previously served as No.10 Communications Director Step down in March, Nominated for peerage by the Prime Minister.
downing street It has now been admitted that Mr Doyle’s links with Sean Morton were “thoroughly investigated” before he was nominated for the peerage, including a number of interviews with Mr Doyle himself.
It is understood that Number Ten is satisfied that past acquaintances do not prevent Mr Doyle from being appointed to the House of Lords.
Morton, a former Scottish Labor MP for Fochabers and Lhanbryde, was charged in December 2016 with possessing and distributing indecent images of children and later convicted in February 2018, including possessing several nude images of girls as young as 10.
Morton was suspended from the Labor Party after appearing in court, but Mr Doyle reportedly campaigned for him when he sought re-election as an independent in May 2017.
Pictures seen sunday times Mr Doyle was wearing a T-shirt that read “Sean Morton re-elected”. The newspaper also reported that he accompanied Morton to the count.
Doyle said in a statement to the newspaper: “Sean Morton maintains his innocence at this time. I regret to support him.
“Sean Morton is someone I’ve known for some time through other mutual acquaintances. I haven’t seen him in many years.”
Morton was given a community payback order which included completing 140 hours of unpaid work over nine months. He was also given a three-year supervision order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Just weeks ago, Scottish Labor MP Pam Duncan-Glancy announced earlier this month that she would not seek re-election as a Holyrood MP over her links to Morton.
Mr Duncan-Glancy resigned as the party’s education spokesman after admitting he had made a “serious error of judgment” over his links to sex offenders.
She said: “While this is obviously a very difficult decision and representing Glasgow is the greatest privilege of my life, I do not want the personal friendship to become a distraction.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and I remain committed to returning Scottish Labor to power next year.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Issues regarding Matthew Doyle’s past acquaintance with Sean Morton have been thoroughly investigated, including numerous interviews with Matthew Doyle prior to his appointment.”
Matthew Doyle and Sean Morton have been contacted for comment.