Britain’s Transport Minister, Louise Haigh, has stepped down following her admission of a criminal offence related to a false police report filed in 2013.
This marks the first resignation from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet since Labour’s decisive electoral win in July.
The controversy stems from an incident where Haigh reported her phone stolen in a mugging, only to later discover it had not been taken. In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister, she acknowledged the error and expressed regret, stating that her continued presence in government would detract from its work.
In her letter to Starmer, Haigh described the 2013 incident as a “mistake,” noting: “Whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government.”
Haigh emphasized her commitment to Labour’s political agenda, adding, “I am totally committed to our political project, and it would be best served by my supporting you from outside government.”
Expressing remorse over her departure, she stated: “I am sorry to leave under these circumstances, but I take pride in what we have done. I will continue to fight every day for the people of Sheffield Heeley, who I was first and foremost elected to represent, and to ensure that the rest of our programme is delivered in full.”
Starmer praises Haigh’s contributions
Prime Minister Starmer responded to Haigh’s resignation with gratitude for her efforts on the government’s transport initiatives. “I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future,” Starmer said, acknowledging her role in shaping Labour’s “ambitious transport agenda.”
Details of the incident: A “genuine mistake“
In her resignation letter, Haigh recounted the details of the 2013 incident: “As you know, in 2013 I was mugged in London. As a 24-year-old woman, the experience was terrifying. In the immediate aftermath, I reported the incident to the police.”
She added: “I gave the police a list of my possessions that I believed had been stolen, including my work phone. Sometime later, I discovered the handset was still in my house. I should have immediately informed my employer, and not doing so straight away was a mistake.”
Haigh described the matter as a “genuine mistake” without intent for personal gain. After the police referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, she pleaded guilty to making a false report in magistrates’ court, receiving a discharge—the lowest possible legal consequence.
The resignation letters, dated November 28, were made public on the morning of November 29. Haigh’s departure signals a significant moment for Starmer’s administration as Labour navigates the challenges of governance after its historic election win.
