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  "path": "/2026/04/22/starmer-admits-trying-find-ambassador-role-another-disgraced-ally-28075364/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-22T12:15:37.000Z",
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  "textContent": "To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nSir Keir Starmer has admitted he tried to find a role in the diplomatic service for another ally with links to a different known sex offender.\n\nAt this afternoon’s session of Prime Minister’s Questions, the PM was asked to confirm a revelation from the Foreign Affairs committee hearing with Sir Olly Robbins on Tuesday.\n\nThe former top Foreign Office civil servant, who was sacked by Starmer last week, told the committee he had previously been asked to find a ‘head of mission’ role for the PM’s ex-communications chief Matthew Doyle.\n\nRobbins said he had been asked by No 10 not to raise the idea with then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy, something he was ‘quite uncomfortable’ with.\n\nThe suggestion was later abandoned and Doyle was nominated for a life peerage by Starmer in December.\n\nHe took up his seat in the House of Lords in January, but just weeks later had the Labour whip suspended when it emerged he had backed Sean Morton, a former councillor who was convicted in 2018 of possessing indecent images of children, in a council campaign.\n\n##  Want to understand more about how politics affects your life?\n\nMetro's senior politics reporter Craig Munro breaks down all the chaos into easy to follow insight, in **Metro** 's politics newsletter Alright, Gov? Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here.\n\nYesterday, Lord Doyle said he had no knowledge that anyone in Downing Street had pushed to get him a role in the Foreign Office after he stepped down as Starmer’s head of communications in March 2025.\n\nBut the PM did not deny the discussions had taken place when asked about it in the Commons this afternoon.\n\nMatthew Doyle being introduced to the House of Lords earlier this year (Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)\n\nStarmer said: ‘Matthew Doyle worked for many years in public service for me as prime minister and other ministers.\n\n‘When people leave roles in any organisation, there are often conversations about other roles they want to apply for, but nothing came of this.’\n\nConservative leader Kemi Badenoch addressed the backbenchers behind the Prime Minister during her questioning, saying: ‘I am amazed at the level of chuntering from Labour MPs.\n\n‘He promised them probity, what he’s given them is cronyism and an old boys’ club where Matthew Doyle is being proposed as an ambassador.’\n\nMuch of today’s session revolved around the questions that emerged from Robbins’ appearance yesterday, which was centred on vetting issues in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.\n\nDespite Robbins describing a ‘very strong expectation’ from No 10 that Mandelson would be approved, Starmer insisted today that ‘no pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case’.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Starmer admits trying to find ambassador role for another disgraced ally"
}