Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has stepped down from her position after details surfaced about her guilty plea to a fraud-related offence over a decade ago.
In 2013, Haigh admitted to falsely reporting her work mobile phone as stolen during a mugging, only to later discover the device in her possession. The incident, which occurred before her political career, resulted in a conditional discharge from magistrates.
Reflecting on her time in office, Haigh described her appointment as the “youngest ever” female cabinet minister as “one of the proudest achievements of my life.”
However, her resignation marks the first departure from Sir Keir Starmer’s government, prompting questions about Starmer’s decision to appoint someone with a spent conviction. This scrutiny follows his previous criticism by Conservative lawmakers during Partygate, when he remarked that “lawbreakers can’t be lawmakers.”
At the time of the offence, Haigh was working as a public policy manager at insurance company Aviva. In a statement reported by Sky and The Times on Thursday, Haigh explained that she had reported a “terrifying” mugging in London, believing her phone to be among several stolen items. She was subsequently issued a replacement device.
Later, Haigh discovered the original phone at home. When she switched it on, it triggered police attention, leading to questioning. She explained, “My solicitor advised me not to comment during that interview, and I regret following that advice.”
The case was referred to magistrates, where she pleaded guilty six months before becoming an MP in 2015. Haigh received a conditional discharge, which she described as the “lowest possible outcome,” adding, “Under the advice of my solicitor, I pleaded guilty – despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain.”
On Friday, Haigh submitted her resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer, stating she did not want to be a distraction. “Labour would be best served by my supporting you from outside government,” she wrote. Starmer responded by praising her tenure, highlighting her efforts to re-nationalize the rail system. He credited her with making “huge strides” in the transport sector and thanked her for her contributions.
As transport secretary, Haigh championed Labour’s flagship policy to re-nationalize the railway system under the Great British Rail initiative. However, her time in office was not without controversy. Last month, she came under fire for calling P&O Ferries a “rogue operator” and urging the public to boycott the company. This sparked a backlash from its parent company, DP World, which threatened to withdraw from a major investment summit. Starmer distanced the government from her comments, stating they were “not the view of the government.”
Haigh’s departure has caused a mix of reactions within the Labour Party. Many believe the incident she outlined was too minor to justify her resignation, especially in the absence of any further issues. However, others feel her decision to step down swiftly was a smart political move, preventing prolonged scrutiny.
One senior Labour figure described it as a “good resignation,” suggesting that it could pave the way for Haigh to return to frontline politics with a clean slate. Known as one of the few “soft left” ministers in Starmer’s cabinet and a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership bid, Haigh was often rumored to be at risk of dismissal during shadow cabinet reshuffles while in opposition.
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A successor for Haigh is expected to be announced soon. The prime minister’s choice will be closely observed as an indicator of which ministers have impressed during Labour’s short time in government.
Born in Sheffield in 1987, Haigh studied politics at Nottingham University and later pursued law at Birkbeck, University of London. Before entering Parliament, she worked as a shop steward for Unite, served as a Metropolitan Police officer in Lambeth, and was elected MP for Sheffield Heeley in 2015.
A Conservative Party spokesperson commented, “Louise Haigh has done the right thing in resigning. It is clear she has failed to behave to the standards expected of an MP.”
(BBC)
