Milan, Feb. 10 (LaPresse) – Matthew Doyle, former communications chief for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced that he will resign from his position as Labour leader in the House of Lords, apologizing for his friendship with the pedophile adviser Sean Morton. Morton was convicted in 2017 for possessing indecent images of minors. Doyle condemned Morton’s crimes and apologized for campaigning on his behalf before the conviction, stating that it was “a clear lapse in judgment for which I unreservedly apologize.” He said he had believed in Morton’s innocence at the time. Doyle had taken his seat in the House of Lords in January and initially assumed the position of Labour leader. According to The Guardian, Doyle had campaigned for Morton in 2017, despite Morton being charged with publishing indecent images of children, claiming he believed Morton’s assertions of innocence. Apparently, 10 Downing Street was not aware that Doyle had campaigned for Morton when he was appointed. "I want to apologize for my past association with Sean Morton," reads Doyle’s statement, "his crimes were vile, and I strongly condemn the actions for which he was rightly convicted. My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by these crimes. At the time of my support for the campaign, Morton repeatedly asserted his innocence to everyone who knew him, even initially in court. Later, in court, he changed his plea to guilty. Failing to cease support prior to a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment for which I unreservedly apologize."