Matthew Doyle (political adviser)

This article is about the British political adviser. For other persons with similar names, see Matt Doyle (disambiguation).
Matthew Doyle
Doyle in March 2009
Downing Street Director of Communications
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byNerissa Chesterfield
Special adviser positions
(2005–2007)
Special adviser to the
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office
May 2005 – June 2007
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Special adviser to the
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office
May 2005 – November 2005
SecretaryDavid Blunkett
Personal details
Born
Matthew Leo Doyle

June 1975 (age 49)
Political partyLabour

Matthew Leo Doyle (born June 1975)[1] is a British political adviser and political aide who has served as Downing Street Director of Communications since July 2024.

Early life

Matthew Leo Doyle was born in June 1975.[1]

Career

Under Blair and Brown (1998–2012)

Doyle was Head of Press and Broadcasting for the Labour Party between November 1998 and May 2005.[2] He was then special adviser to Work and Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett, from May to November 2005, before working as a special adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair from November 2005 to June 2007.[2] He was the Downing Street Deputy Director of Communications under Blair.[3] He departed Downing Street after Tony Blair left office as Prime Minister, and went on to work as the Political Director of Blair's office from June 2007 to February 2012.[2]

Doyle was also the TV Debates Media Director for Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the 2010 general election.[2]

After Blair (2012–2021)

In 2012, he established his own political consultancy, MLD Advisory Ltd.[2] He also spent two years as the Director of Communications for the International Rescue Committee under former Foreign Secretary David Miliband.[2][4]

Doyle led the press operation for Liz Kendall's campaign in the 2015 Labour leadership election.[5]

Controversially Doyle was appointed for 3 months as a media adviser to Secretary-General Patricia Scotland at the Commonwealth Secretariat in April 2016. Leaks to the media showed that he had been paid £48,000 for the 3 months work. [6]

Under Starmer (2021–present)

Shortly after the Labour's defeat in the 2021 Hartlepool by-election,[7] Doyle was appointed the Labour Party Director of Communications on an interim basis under Leader Keir Starmer, with the role later becoming permanent.[8][9][10] After Labour's victory in the 2024 general election,[11] Doyle was appointed Downing Street Director of Communications.[12][13]

Personal life

Doyle is Roman Catholic.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Matthew Leo DOYLE personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Experience | Matthew Doyle". Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  3. ^ "Tony Blair's political director Matthew Doyle resigns to pursue other interests | PR Week". 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  4. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (2021-06-23). "Matthew Doyle appointed as interim director of communications". LabourList. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  5. ^ Hayward, Freddie (2023-09-06). "Starmer's transition from soft-left to Labour right is complete". New Statesman. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  6. ^ https://order-order.com/2017/01/27/baroness-scotlands-aide-matthew-doyle-caught-red-handed/
  7. ^ Steerpike (2021-06-25). "Labour director of communications: runners and riders". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  8. ^ "Who's who in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's inner circle". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  9. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer picks ex-Tony Blair aide as interim communications chief". BBC News. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  10. ^ "Keir Starmer's ruthless remaking of the Labour party". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  11. ^ Walker, Peter; correspondent, Peter Walker Senior political (2024-05-24). "Meet the top teams: the key election advisers to Sunak and Starmer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-19. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "Who are the key people inside Labour's leadership team? | Labour | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  13. ^ "Meet Downing Street's new comms team | PR Week". 2024-07-09. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  14. ^ "Faith at the heart of Keir Starmer's team". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-19.