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Matthew Doyle (political adviser)

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Matthew Doyle
Doyle in March 2009
Downing Street Director of Communications
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

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

Career

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Under Blair and Brown (1998–2012)

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

After Blair (2012–2021)

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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]

Under Starmer (2021–present)

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Shortly after the Labour's defeat in the 2021 Hartlepool by-election,[6] Doyle was appointed the Labour Party Director of Communications on an interim basis under Leader Keir Starmer, with the role later becoming permanent.[7][8][9] After Labour's victory in the 2024 general election,[10] Doyle was appointed Downing Street Director of Communications.[11][12]

Personal life

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Doyle is Roman Catholic.[13]

References

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  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". web.archive.org. 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. ^ Steerpike (2021-06-25). "Labour director of communications: runners and riders". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  7. ^ "Who's who in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's inner circle". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  8. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer picks ex-Tony Blair aide as interim communications chief". BBC News. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  9. ^ "Keir Starmer's ruthless remaking of the Labour party". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Who are the key people inside Labour's leadership team? | Labour | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  12. ^ "Meet Downing Street's new comms team | PR Week". web.archive.org. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  13. ^ "Faith at the heart of Keir Starmer's team". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-19.