Baroness Hodge defends secret efforts by No10 to find a diplomatic posting for Matthew Doyle, despite his controversial associations and concerns raised by former officials about undue influence.
The controversy surrounding potential political favouritism within the UK government deepened yesterday as evidence emerged regarding attempts to secure a diplomatic posting for Matthew Doyle , the Prime Minister’s former spin chief.
Baroness Hodge, appointed as the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption champion in 2024, publicly defended these efforts, stating there was ‘nothing wrong’ with assisting friends in their job search, provided due process was followed. This defence has ignited a firestorm of criticism, particularly given Doyle’s subsequent suspension from the Labour party due to his association with a convicted paedophile.
The core of the issue revolves around claims that Downing Street exerted pressure on the Foreign Office to identify suitable ambassadorships for Doyle following his departure from No 10. Sir Olly Robbins, a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, testified before MPs that No 10 initiated ‘several discussions’ with him regarding the possibility of appointing Doyle as an ambassador.
Robbins admitted to feeling ‘quite uncomfortable’ with the suggestion and revealed he was specifically asked to withhold this information from then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy, fearing it would be ‘hard for me personally to defend’. Doyle himself maintains he was unaware of any lobbying efforts on his behalf for such a position, expressing his desire to remain involved in UK politics after leaving Downing Street. The situation is further complicated by the timing of events.
Sir Olly Robbins’ testimony indicates these discussions occurred shortly after he assumed leadership of the Foreign Office in January of last year, coinciding with departmental restructuring that put senior diplomats at risk of redundancy. This context raises questions about whether the push for Doyle’s appointment was an attempt to provide a landing spot for a departing aide amidst broader organizational changes.
Lord Mandelson, a former ambassador to the US, was also reportedly considered for a role in Washington, according to Sir Olly. The revelation that No 10’s private office directly contacted the head of the diplomatic service to inquire about available head of mission jobs underscores the level of intervention from the Prime Minister’s office.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has expressed ‘extreme concern’ at the suggestion that the permanent secretary was instructed not to inform the Foreign Secretary about these discussions, highlighting a potential breach of protocol and transparency. Critics have labelled the situation as ‘pushing through jobs for the boys, no matter what they’ve done’, pointing to Doyle’s controversial associations as a particularly troubling aspect of the affair. The fallout from this scandal extends beyond the immediate question of Doyle’s potential appointment.
Baroness Hodge’s defence, while asserting the importance of a fair and open appointment process, has been widely criticised as downplaying the appearance of cronyism. Her statement that ‘if somebody you're working with is about to lose their job, there's nothing wrong… in saying, are there any other jobs available’ has been interpreted by many as condoning the use of political influence to benefit allies.
The fact that Doyle was ultimately granted a peerage last year, only to be suspended from Labour due to his links to a convicted paedophile, adds another layer of complexity and raises serious questions about the vetting process for such honours. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden faced uncomfortable questioning on whether Sir Keir Starmer personally advocated for Doyle’s ambassadorship, admitting he had not sought clarification from No 10 before publicly defending the government’s position.
This lack of preparedness further fuels the perception of a coordinated effort to protect those involved. Doyle, in a statement released on Tuesday, reiterated that he never sought a head of mission role and was unaware of any lobbying on his behalf. The ongoing scrutiny promises to keep this issue at the forefront of political debate for the foreseeable future, raising fundamental questions about accountability, transparency, and the integrity of the appointments process
Keir Starmer Matthew Doyle Baroness Hodge Downing Street Diplomatic Posting Cronyism Foreign Office Sir Olly Robbins
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