Keir Starmer appoints new Transport Secretary to replace Louise Haigh
by Andrew Quinn, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/authors/andrew-quinn/ · Daily RecordGet the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Keir Starmer has appointed Heidi Alexander as his new Transport Secretary. It comes after Louise Haigh resigned over a mobile phone fraud offence.
Alexander had been courts minister since July and is a previous Deputy London Mayor for Transport. She returned to the House of Commons as MP for Swindon South in July, having previously served as an MP between 2010 and 2018.
It emerged yesterday that Haigh pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. It is understood the incident was disclosed to the Prime Minister when she joined the shadow cabinet.
Haigh resigned from the Cabinet on Friday morning. On Thursday evening, Sky News and the Times newspaper reported that Haigh had admitted an offence in 2014 following the incident. She had reported to police the device was stolen when she was “mugged” in 2013.
It is understood that it was a fraud offence and that the conviction is now spent. Haigh said she discovered “some time later” that the phone had not been taken. She said the matter was a “genuine mistake” from which she “did not make any gain”, and that magistrates gave her the “lowest possible outcome”.
Scottish politics
- Anas Sarwar says benefit cut not 'fair'
- Greens demand spending on independence
- Flynn to speak at SNP bash amid row
- Campaigners call for assisted dying
Haigh has been Sheffield Heeley MP since 2015 and held a number of shadow ministerial and shadow cabinet roles before becoming Transport Secretary when Labour won the election in July. Before she entered politics she spent time as a special constable.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.