Why did you let a convicted criminal into your cabinet Keir & when did you find out? Tories ask – as PM under pressure
There is mounting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to clarify why Louise Haigh was appointed Transport Secretary in spite of her fraud conviction.
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart demanded in a scathing letter that the PM reveal how he first became aware of her criminal history.
Labour’s own pledge of “propriety, ethical behavior, and transparency in Government” was allegedly disregarded by the prime minister.
“If you didn’t see it as a disqualifying factor then, why has it become today?” he wrote, questioning why Ms. Haigh’s conviction—now deemed spent—wasn’t a deterrent to her appointment in July.
Sir Keir was also questioned by the Duchy of Lancaster’s Shadow Chancellor on whether the Propriety and Ethics Team was notified at the time and whether any advice was sought or taken.
After acknowledging that she had reported her work phone stolen in 2013 only to discover it at home, Ms. Haigh resigned.
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In 2014, the incident resulted in a fraud conviction, which Haigh called an error.
Downing Street has declined to confirm if Sir Keir was aware of the conviction when he gave Haigh the transport brief worth $30 billion annually.
According to the prime minister’s deputy spokesperson, the prime minister has accepted her resignation and admitted that the matter will unavoidably divert attention from carrying out the duties of the government.
Sir Keir responded, “The Prime Minister has accepted Louise Haigh’s resignation following further information emerging,” when asked if he was aware of Ms. Haigh’s conviction at the time of her appointment to the Cabinet.
He did not elaborate on the nature of the new information.
He stated that ministers are supposed to follow the ministerial code but declined to engage in personal discussions.
When questioned if she was offered a position or asked to quit, he replied, “She resigned.”
When Ms. Haigh was selected to Sir Keir’s Shadow Cabinet, sources close to her say he was informed about the incident.
During a “terrifying” night out in 2013, the 37-year-old former Labour minister claims she was robbed and provided police with a list of goods that were stolen from her handbag.
Her work cell phone was on that list, but she found “some time later” that it had not been taken.
Haigh pled guilty to an offense related to deceiving the police and expressed regret for the error, according to SkyNews.
Haigh was handed a conditional discharge for fraud by misrepresentation, according to The Guardian.
She claimed that after the work phone was turned on, she was summoned to talk with the police.
“I regret following my solicitor’s advice not to comment during that interview,” she stated in a statement.
“I appeared before Southwark magistrates after the police referred the case to the CPS.
“Under the advice of my solicitor I pleaded guilty – despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain.”
According to sources quoted by Sky News, Haigh submitted the bogus claim in order to gain personal advantage and receive a newer phone from the corporation.
According to two individuals, the event led to her losing her job.
At the time, Haigh was employed by Aviva, an insurance business, as a public policy manager.
She was elected MP for Sheffield-Heeley after working for the corporation from 2012 to 2015.
Six months prior to the 2015 general election in which she was elected to parliament, Haigh had an appearance at the Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court.
Haigh stated in her statement that the Court granted her a discharge, the lowest possible result.
Now, her conviction is regarded as “spent”.
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Ms. Haigh sent a letter to the PM this morning announcing her resignation.
Heidi Alexander, a Labour MP and former Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, has taken her seat.
Huge blow for ‘furious’ PM
By Political Editor Harry Cole
Given that Louise Haigh was solely known for giving striking train drivers billions in salary increases the week that pensioners were denied their winter heating payments, you might be forgiven for believing that her brief tenure in public life was illegal.
We now know, however, that she was a real convicted felon who was taken into the government.
Any prime minister will eventually lose his first cabinet member, but Sir Keir Starmer’s brief response to Haigh’s resignation letter makes it clear how furious he is right now.
The Prime Minister is in an unusual position for a man who stepped on the steps of Downing Street vowing to put an end to sleaze.
He is embroiled in controversy, just like a lot of the predecessors he condemned.
Following the revelation of a convicted fraudster around his cabinet table, Sir Keir’s administration has suffered a setback on the basic basis of ethics, which he requested be the basis for evaluation.
Even if the prime minister is understandably furious, he cannot avoid answering several questions regarding the selection of his transport secretary, including who was aware of what and when.
Haigh asserts When she was employed to his opposition front bench, Starmer was made aware of her deception; however, his then-chief of staff, Sam White, might have some insight into this terrible tale.
He used to work as a boss at Aviva, where Haigh was fired following her conviction.
What did the renowned Whitehall witch hunter know when she let Haigh into the cabinet? Sue Gray is back in the news again.
She will be aware of the reality because she oversaw cabinet appointments.
No10 may be hoping that this can be resolved fast, but they also need to address the important question: why was Haigh hired in the first place if she had to quit suddenly due to this problem?
Why was it acceptable to enter the cabinet but now required to leave?
And that’s before we discuss whether any other ministers present are concealing these kinds of secrets.
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