In a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, Britain’s Transport Minister Louise Haigh resigned following revelations of a past conviction linked to misleading police about a work mobile phone.
Haigh’s resignation marks the first major departure from Starmer’s government since his Labour Party achieved a landslide victory in the July elections. The minister admitted to a 2014 conviction and conditional discharge stemming from a 2013 incident, where she falsely reported her phone stolen during a “terrifying” mugging, only to later find the device at her home.
In her resignation letter dated Thursday, Nov. 28, Haigh expressed regret over her actions and announced her decision to step down. She stated, “This issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government and the policies to which we are committed. I remain totally committed to our political project but believe it is best served by my supporting you from outside government.”
Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged her contribution, saying, “Louise has played a vital role in delivering this government’s ambitious transport agenda, and we are grateful for her service.”
The opposition Conservative Party, however, criticized Starmer’s judgment, questioning why he appointed Haigh despite knowing about her past conviction. A party spokesperson commented, “The onus is now on Keir Starmer to explain this obvious failure of judgment to the British public.”
The resignation adds to growing pressure on the Labour government, which has faced criticism for controversial policy decisions, including cuts to fuel payments for the elderly and tax increases on businesses and the wealthy in its first budget.
Haigh, first elected to parliament in 2015, described the incident as a “genuine mistake” and insisted that she had not benefited from it. Nevertheless, her departure amplifies the challenges facing Starmer’s administration as it navigates declining approval ratings and public discontent.
