Louise Haigh resigns as transport secretary after admitting to offence over phone claim
IndependentNOV 20 2024
Haigh, who was 24 at the time, claimed she mistakenly reported her work phone stolen during a mugging incident, later discovering it at home, and received a conditional discharge from magistrates for the offense.
The conviction was disclosed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer when Haigh joined the shadow cabinet in 2020, raising questions about his judgment in subsequently appointing her to oversee a £30 billion transport budget.
As Transport Secretary, Haigh had achieved significant policy reforms, including advancing rail nationalization through Great British Railways and securing £1 billion for bus services.
This resignation exposes serious questions about Prime Minister Starmer's judgment in appointing someone with a fraud conviction to manage a £30 billion budget, especially given his previous stance that 'lawbreakers cannot be lawmakers'.