Keir Starmer throws Louise Haigh under the bus amid fraud scandal

In recent days, Louise Haigh stepped down from her position as Transport Secretary after it was revealed that she had a previous conviction for fraud related to a false police report in 2013. This incident was significant as it highlighted a previous ethical concern within the Labour Party. Haigh’s conviction stemmed from an event where she wrongly reported that her work phone was stolen in a mugging. However, she later discovered the phone at her home. Her disclosure of this conviction to Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, during her induction into the Shadow Cabinet in 2020 was initially met with support from him. Following the emergence of new information related to her case, the Prime Minister, however, retracted that support, leading to her resignation. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden insisted that the situation was handled promptly and emphasized that the Labour government was not chaotic. Former justice minister Heidi Alexander has now taken over Haigh’s role as Transport Secretary. Notably, McFadden clarified that having a criminal conviction does not legally preclude an individual from serving in Parliament, which raises questions regarding the character of political appointments. The quick resolution of this incident reflects a stark contrast to past political controversies that may have dragged on longer under different administrations, indicating an effort from Labour to be responsive to issues of accountability within its ranks.