Starmer accused of appointing ‘paedophile apologists’ to Labour ‘boys’ club’
Sir Keir Starmer was hit with a new vetting crisis today over his decision to appoint his former communications director, Matthew Doyle, to the House of Lords.
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On Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch accused him of "stuffing Government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists" in fiery exchanges at PMQs.
Taking aim at the Prime Minister, Badenoch accused Starmer of "stratospheric levels of delusion" as she insisted he "always puts the Downing Street Boys Club first".
It comes after Lord Matthew Doyle apologised for his past association with convicted sex offender Sean Morton - a former Labour councillor, and said he would not be taking the Labour whip.
Morton admitted to having indecent images of children in November 2017, with Lord Doyle campaigning for the disgraced councillor when he ran as an Independent candidate in May 2017.
Sir Keir said on Wednesday that his former communications chief “did not give a full account of his actions” when he was given a peerage despite his ties to a paedophile councillor.
Read more: Starmer's former comms chief Lord Doyle suspended from Labour over links to paedophile councillor
Lord Doyle's elevation to the House of Lords has raised fresh questions about the Prime Minister’s judgment amid claims his former aide’s friendship with Morton was public knowledge when his appointment was confirmed.
Speaking on Tuesday, 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."
The PMQs exchange - the first since a Labour leadership crisis saw the PM cling to power with the backing of senior ministers - saw Starmer insist that he is "fighting to change our country" during the fiery Commons exchange.
The crisis saw Scottish Labour leader call for the PM to step aside on Monday, despite Starmer gaining the backing of Labour Cabinet colleagues.
Anas Sarwar again called for Starmer to resign on Wednesday, insisting there was now a "general acceptance that things have not been good enough, that there have been too many mistakes and things have to change".
He told reporters at the Scottish Parliament: "I stated my view and I stand by that view because I am the one who is putting myself before the public in three months' time and the people in Scotland deserve to know what my standards are, what I believe, what I am willing to tolerate and what I would do differently if I was elected as first minister."
Starmer's he was met with widespread condemnation from the opposition, with Sir Ed Davey insisting Starmer had showed a “catastrophic lack of judgment”.
The Liberal Democrats leader told the Commons: “To appoint one paedophile supporter cannot be excused as ‘misfortune’.
“To appoint two shows a catastrophic lack of judgment.”
Speaking from the dispatch box on Wednesday, Ms Badenoch was also seen to take a swipe at the PM's claims he'd "never lost a fight" as he attempted to cling on to his job as Labour leader.
"He tells everyone he’s never lost a fight - it’s because he’s never stepped into the ring," Badenoch insisted.
"He's throwing everyone under the bus except himself," she continued, accusing the PM of "trying to save his own skin" in what she called an "established pattern of behaviour".
Despite the apology, the Labour Party's chairwoman has called for Lord Doyle to be stripped of his peerage over his ties to Morton.
Anna Turley suggested Lord Doyle had not told the truth before being elevated to the Lords.
Wales’s First Minister Eluned Morgan told LBC today she hopes there will be a "culture shift" in No10 following the Mandelson scandal.
She said: “I've never been a big fan of Mandelson.
“I don't think he holds the kind of values that I hold dear.
“You know, he seems to be in awe of people with money. You know, those are not the kind of people generally who are attracted to serve the Labour Party.
“So clearly, you know, Keir has admitted he made a mistake in appointing him, that he didn't have the full facts in front of him.
“But look, the key thing for me is we've got to get back to focusing on those women who suffered and the misogyny. The language in those email exchanges is, frankly horrific.
“I mean, it's just shocking that that is going on in this day and age and it's amongst the rich and powerful men. And that has to be stopped. That has to be stopped. I genuinely don't think Keir Starmer is someone who would endorse anything like that. He has always been a champion of women's rights.”
In a speech on Turesday, the PM insisted he would "never walk away from the country I love".
The Prime Minister said on a visit to Hertfordshire: "I will never walk away from the mandate I was given to change this country.
"I will never walk away from the people that I'm charged with fighting for, and I will never walk away from the country that I love, and that is the country who I truly believe we are, a compassionate, reasonable, live and let live country, a diverse country where, given half the chance, will help each other out.
The comments come as Starmer insisted he was backed by a "strong" and "united" Cabinet amid calls for him to step down on Monday.
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch retorted that Sir Keir’s position was untenable, branding his current position a
"stay of execution" - adding it was a matter of "when, not if" he is ousted.