Louise Haigh resigns as transport secretary after admitting to offence over phone claim
IndependentDec 07, 2024
UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has resigned after revelations emerged about her 2014 conviction for making a false police report regarding a stolen work phone while employed at Aviva in 2013.
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.Haigh, who was 24 at the time, claimed she mistakenly reported her work phone stolen during a mugging incident and received a conditional discharge from magistrates for the offense.
In her resignation letter, Haigh stated that "whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction," and while "totally committed to [Starmer's] political project" this would be "best served" outside of Government.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.
Haigh’s resignation is a sad loss for Labour. Her work on renationalising the railways and fighting for workers’ rights was transformative, yet a decade-old mistake has overshadowed her achievements. It’s hard not to see this as disproportionate – a young woman mugged, a genuine error, and a spent conviction she disclosed years ago. Instead of supporting a proven leader, the government let pressure and optics force her out. Labour is weaker without her in the Cabinet, and it will not be long until we see her return to frontline politics.
Starmer’s judgment is under scrutiny after Haigh’s resignation. Despite knowing about her conviction when appointing her, Starmer allowed her to hold a critical cabinet role until public exposure forced her to step down. This raises questions about his leadership and commitment to transparency. If a conviction is disqualifying now, why wasn’t it before? Starmer’s inconsistency undermines trust in his administration, suggesting political convenience outweighs accountability in his decision-making.