Labour’s Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has dramatically resigned after admitting to misleading the police in 2014 by falsely claiming she had her phone stolen after being mugged.
Ms Haigh, who was appointed to Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet, stepped down after it emerged she pleaded guilty almost a decade ago to providing false information about her mobile phone being stolen.
The incident dates back to 2013, when Ms Haigh reported to police that she had been “mugged while on a night out.” She claimed a work mobile phone and other items had been stolen. However, she later discovered the phone had not been lost and admitted the truth when called in for police questioning.
In 2014, six months before being elected as an MP, Ms Haigh appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to making a false report.
In a resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Haigh said:
“I deeply regret my actions from nearly a decade ago and the distraction they now cause to the vital work of this Government. While I am sorry to leave under these circumstances, I believe I can best support your leadership from outside the shadow cabinet.”
Ms Haigh’s resignation has sparked fresh criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s judgement in appointing her to a high-profile cabinet role despite knowledge of the incident.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said:
“Louise Haigh has done the right thing in resigning. It is clear she has failed to behave to the standards expected of an MP. However, her resignation raises serious questions about Keir Starmer’s judgement. Why did he appoint her to oversee a £30bn budget knowing about her prior conviction?”
The spokesperson also called on Sir Keir to clarify whether other members of his shadow cabinet had similar undisclosed skeletons in their closets.
This resignation could set a damaging precedent for Labour’s leadership, with critics now questioning the standards of other senior party members. In particular, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under renewed scrutiny over allegations about discrepancies in her career history and lying on her CV..
One senior Tory source quipped: “The precedent is clear: if you’ve not been truthful, you step down. How is Rachel Reeves’ CV looking these days?”
This revelation is likely to heap pressure on Sir Keir Starmer as Labour faces increasing scrutiny over its vetting process and the integrity of its leadership team. With calls for transparency growing louder, the question remains whether this resignation is an isolated case or the first in a string of accountability issues for Labour’s top brass.
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