Louise Haigh resigns as Transport Secretary
It follows an investigation which found she pleaded guilty 10 years ago to misleading the police about a phone which had been reported stolen.
Last updated 29th Nov 2024
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has resigned after it emerged she pleaded guilty after she incorrectly told police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.
She will stay on in her role as Sheffield Heeley MP.
Her resignation letter has been released this morning:
"Dear Prime Minister,
"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. I gave the police a list of my possessions that I believed had been stolen, including my work phone. Some time later, I discovered that the handset in question was still in my house. I should have immediately informed my employer and not doing so straight away was a mistake.
"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.
"I will always be grateful for the support you have shown me, and I take great pride in what we achieved since the election.
"Just today, our Bill bringing the railways back into public ownership received Royal Assent and became an Act of Parliament. This is a once in a generation reform to our railways which will change our country for the better. A commitment made by leaders of our Party for decades, finally delivered.
"I am proud that we have also taken the first steps to putting buses back in the hands of passengers and local people, work which will be completed by the Buses Bill when it is laid next month.
"My appointment to your Cabinet as the youngest ever woman remains one of the proudest achievements of my life, but not as proud as the steps we took to improve the lives of the British people.
"I remain totally committed to our political project, but I now believe it will be best served by my supporting you from outside Government.
"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.
"Yours faithfully,
"Louise"
In a reply, the Prime Minister wrote:
"Thank you for all you have done to deliver this Government's ambitious transport agenda.
"You have made huge strides to take our rail system back into public ownership through the creation of Great British Railways, investing £1 billion in our vital bus services and lowering cost for motorists.
"I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future."