Louise Haigh has stepped down as transport secretary, becoming the first cabinet member to resign under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Her decision follows the revelation of a past incident involving a work phone reported as stolen in 2013, which later turned out to be a misunderstanding.
In a statement, Haigh admitted she had made an error when, as a 24-year-old, she mistakenly reported her work mobile phone as stolen following a mugging.
She explained that she discovered later the phone was still at her home but had not immediately informed her employer.
Haigh described the incident as a “mistake” and said that it could become a distraction from the government’s efforts.
She cited the need to focus on delivering Labour’s agenda as a primary reason for her resignation, emphasising her pride in the progress made in transport policy during her tenure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Haigh’s resignation, thanking her for her contributions, which included advancing the public ownership of railways through Great British Railways, investing £1 billion in bus services, and reducing costs for motorists.
Starmer praised her efforts and expressed confidence in her continued contributions to public service in the future.
The Conservative Party criticised Starmer’s judgement in appointing Haigh, citing her past conviction as evidence of a failure to meet expected standards.
A party spokesperson called on Starmer to address why Haigh had been given responsibility for a significant transport budget despite the incident being known prior to her appointment.
Haigh’s resignation leaves a vacancy in the Department for Transport as Labour faces scrutiny over its cabinet selections. The issue underscores ongoing challenges in balancing political appointments with public expectations of accountability.
