"At the point of my campaigning support, Morton repeatedly asserted to all those who knew him his innocence, including initially in court, To have not ceased support ahead of a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgement for which I apologise unreservedly. Those of us who took [Morton] at his word were clearly mistaken. I have never sought to dismiss or diminish the seriousness of the offences for which he was rightly convicted. They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction."
"Following his conviction any contact was extremely limited and I have not seen or spoken to him in years. Twice I was at events organised by other people, which he attended, and once I saw him to check on his welfare after concerns were raised through others."
"All complaints are assessed thoroughly in line with our rules and procedures."
Lord Doyle, a peer and former director of communications for Sir Keir Starmer, has been suspended from Labour’s parliamentary party over links to Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor who admitted indecent child image offences in 2017. Lord Doyle campaigned for Morton after Morton was charged in December 2016 and says he accepted Morton’s assertions of innocence at the time and regrets not withdrawing support before a judicial conclusion. Lord Doyle says contact was extremely limited after conviction and that he has not seen or spoken to Morton in years. Downing Street was not aware of that campaigning at the time of his appointment to the Lords. Conservatives have called for disclosure of vetting details. Labour states that all complaints are assessed in line with party rules and procedures.
Read at www.bbc.com
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