Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged that conversations took place within Downing Street about securing a diplomatic position for his former senior aide, Matthew Doyle, who is currently suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir faced intense questioning from opposition leaders regarding reports that his government had explored appointing Lord Doyle—who was made a peer after leaving his role as communications chief in March 2025—to an ambassadorial role. The prime minister confirmed discussions had occurred but insisted nothing materialized.
"When people leave roles in any organisation there are often conversations about other roles they want to apply for, but nothing came of this," Starmer told Conservative MP Mike Wood.
The controversy emerged during testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee by Sir Olly Robbins, the recently dismissed senior civil servant at the Foreign Office. Robbins revealed the discussions about Doyle's potential appointment as part of the ongoing fallout from the sacking of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.
Lord Doyle has denied seeking such a position, stating he was unaware of any talks with the Foreign Office about finding him a role. His parliamentary suspension in February stemmed from his past association with Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor convicted of indecent child image offences in 2017.
Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch launched a fierce attack during the session, accusing Starmer of fostering "cronyism and an Old Boy's Club" and demanding his resignation over the handling of both the Mandelson and Doyle matters.
"He promised them probity; what he has given them is cronyism and an Old Boy's Club where Matthew Doyle is being proposed as an ambassador," Badenoch declared.
The prime minister responded with a forceful defense, repeatedly shouting "wrong, wrong, wrong" as he dismissed Badenoch's allegations about due process violations in Mandelson's appointment. However, observers noted that some Labour MPs on the benches behind Starmer remained conspicuously silent during what is typically a show of unified support.
The foreign affairs committee has scheduled additional testimony for next week from Morgan McSweeney, the former Downing Street chief of staff who resigned in February over his involvement in the Mandelson appointment process.