Louise Haigh ‘told to quit by No 10 over possible breach of ministerial code’

Keir Starmersir

Following further information emerging, the Prime Minister has accepted Louise Haigh’s resignation.”

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer knew about Ms Haigh’s conviction when he appointed her to the Cabinet, he said

If you didn't see it as a disqualifying factor then, why has it become today?"

And he questioned why Ms Haigh's conviction - now classified as spent - wasn't a barrier to her appointment in July, writing

I appreciate that whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government and the policies to which we are both committed.

In a letter to Sir Keir she said

The onus is now on Keir Starmer to explain this obvious failure of judgement to the British public,

they added

In 2013 I was mugged while on a night out

The Transport Secretary said in her statement

These are extremely concerning revelations about the person responsible for managing £30billion of taxpayers' money

Nigel Huddleston said in a statement

I remain totally committed to our political project, but I now believe it will be best served by my supporting you from outside Government

She added

Thank you for all you have done to deliver this Government's ambitious transport agenda

He added

Keir Starmersir

I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future."

Responding to her resignation letter, the prime minister thanked Ms Haigh for

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,

she wrote

I’m old enough to remember when the sacking of Sue Gray meant that the No.10 comms operation was going to improve under Morgan McSweeney."

New MP Ben Obese-Jecty MP joked

Louise Haigh has done the right thing in resigning. It is clear she has failed to behave to the standards expected of an MP,

said a Conservative Party spokesperson in a statement

In her resignation letter, she states that Keir Starmer was already aware of the fraud conviction, which raises questions as to why the Prime Minister appointed Ms Haigh to Cabinet with responsibility for a £30bn budget? The onus is now on Keir Starmer to explain this obvious failure of judgement to the British public,

the Tory spokesperson said

Louise Haightransport Secretary

I should have immediately informed my employer and not doing so straight away was a mistake,

Haigh said in her resignation letter

As you know, in 2013 I was mugged in London. As a 24-year old woman, the experience was terrifying,

she wrote to the prime minister in her resignation letter

This is a matter of trust and leadership and I don't think that the man who set the rules and asked the British people to make unimaginable sacrifices, and then is found to have repeatedly flouted them, can remain in post. We think he should resign,

she told the BBC in March 2022

He has clearly repeatedly lied to the House of Commons and to the British people and the only question he should now answer is when he will resign,

she later added on LBC

I think Theresa May had a shocking campaign. I'm amazed that she's not resigned. Clearly she has to,

she told Sheffield Live after the June general election