British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to appoint a new transport minister on Friday after Louise Haigh, the youngest member of his cabinet, resigned following revelations that she pled guilty to a criminal offence dating back to 2013. Haigh admitted to misleading the police regarding a mobile phone she had claimed was stolen during a mugging, only to later discover it was still at her home. In her resignation letter, Haigh explained that she had made an honest mistake but acknowledged the incident could distract from the government’s work.
Heidi Alexander, former deputy mayor for transport in London, was swiftly appointed as her replacement. Haigh’s resignation comes amid growing scrutiny of Starmer’s leadership, with the Labour Party’s approval ratings dropping following a series of controversial policies, including tax hikes targeting businesses, farmers, and pensioners. The Conservative Party has criticized Starmer’s judgment, questioning why he appointed Haigh despite being aware of her past conviction.
Haigh, who was responsible for the recent rail nationalisation bill, had been seen as a rising star within Labour, holding senior posts under both Starmer and the former leader Jeremy Corbyn. However, her resignation marks another blow to Starmer’s government, which has faced increasing challenges in the wake of significant policy changes and public discontent.
