Louise Haigh Resigns as Transport Secretary After Guilty Plea Over Phone Incident

Louise Haigh admitted to falsely reporting a work phone stolen in 2013, leading to her resignation as transport secretary. She claimed to have been mugged in London and mistakenly included the work phone in a list of stolen items. However, she later found the phone in her home. Haigh acknowledged her mistake in not immediately informing her employer and stated that the incident would be a distraction from government work. The situation was disclosed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer when she joined the shadow Cabinet. Haigh pleaded guilty to a fraud offence related to the incident and received the lowest possible outcome. Despite the conviction being spent, reports indicated that her former employer, Aviva, launched an investigation into missing company mobile phones. Haigh, who has served as Sheffield Heeley MP since 2015, has held various shadow ministerial roles before becoming transport secretary. Starmer acknowledged Haigh’s contributions to public transportation and expressed confidence in her future potential. The Conservative Party criticized Haigh’s resignation, questioning Starmer’s judgment in appointing her to a Cabinet position with a significant budget.

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