Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged that Downing Street made inquiries about finding a diplomatic position for Matthew Doyle, his former communications chief, according to government sources.

Doyle left his role at Number 10 in March 2025 and was subsequently made a Labour peer. However, he was suspended from the parliamentary Labour party in February over his links with a convicted sex offender.

The revelation has prompted questions about the government's appointment processes, with claims that Downing Street pressured the Foreign Office to secure a role for the former aide. The exact nature and timing of these inquiries remain unclear.

Baroness Margaret Hodge, who serves as the government's anti-corruption champion, defended the practice of helping associates find employment opportunities. She stated there was "nothing wrong" with people assisting their friends in securing work positions.

The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny of government appointment procedures and the potential for conflicts of interest when senior officials seek to place former colleagues in public sector roles. Doyle's subsequent suspension adds another layer of complexity to the matter.

Neither Downing Street nor the Foreign Office has provided detailed comments about the specific nature of the job inquiries or whether any formal positions were offered to Doyle during the process.