Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has resigned following revelations that she mistakenly told police that a mobile phone had been stolen during a mugging. Ms Haigh discovered the phone in her house some time after she was mugged.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh's resignation letter in full:
Rt Hon Louise Haigh
MP Member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley
House of Commons, London SW1A OAA
November 28th 2024
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
You can download Ms Haigh's original resignation letter on the government website.
