Sir Keir Starmer has been plunged into further crisis as calls grow for his ex-communication chief to lose his peerage over his links to a paedophile councillor.
Labour announced on Tuesday that it had suspended Lord Matthew Doyle after he had campaigned for councillor Sean Morton in 2017, despite him being charged over indecent images of children.
Lord Doyle, who the prime minister elevated to the House of Lords in December, apologised for his association with Morton on Tuesday, saying he had “extremely” limited contact with him.
In a statement, he said: “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.”
Labour chair Anna Turley told Sky News: “There’s no place […] in the Lords” for people like Lord Doyle.
It is the latest in a string of departures to hit the Labour Party after communications director Tim Allan and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney both quit within 48 hours.
His departure also comes as the prime minister attempts to fightback against an alleged leadership coup, with Wes Streeting accused of plotting to depose Sir Keir.
