Ms Haigh mentioned she was “mugged while on a night out” in 2013. She then reported the incident to the police and gave officers an inventory of things she believed had been taken – together with a piece cell phone.
She added: “In the interim, I had been issued with another work phone.”
The transport secretary mentioned: “The original work device being switched on triggered police attention and I was asked to come in for questioning.
“My solicitor suggested me to not remark throughout that interview and I remorse following that recommendation.
“The police referred the matter to the CPS and I appeared before Southwark magistrates.”
Ms Haigh continued: “Below the recommendation of my solicitor I pleaded responsible – regardless of the very fact this was a real mistake from which I didn’t make any achieve.
“The magistrates accepted all of these arguments and gave me the lowest possible outcome (a discharge) available.”
It is understood her conviction is now labeled as ‘spent’.
Nonetheless, three separate sources claimed she made the false report to learn personally, with two of the sources alleging she wished a extra fashionable work handset that was being rolled out to her colleagues on the time.
The now cupboard minister had been working as a public coverage supervisor at Aviva, however two sources mentioned she misplaced her job on the insurance coverage agency due to the incident.
Her authorities profile states she left this function in 2015 earlier than changing into the MP for Sheffield Heeley at that 12 months’s basic election.
He added: “Keir Starmer has serious questions to answer regarding what he knew and when about the person he appointed as transport secretary admitting to having misled the police.”
Earlier than getting into politics, the transport secretary was a particular constable within the Metropolitan Police – serving between 2009 and 2011 within the South London Borough of Lambeth, near the place she was convicted a number of years later.
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Louise Haigh was a particular constable from 2009-2011. Pic: www.louisehaigh.org.uk
She was appointed shadow policing minister by Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 and often drew on her expertise within the Met when difficult the Tory authorities on the rising calls for on officers.
As transport secretary, Ms Haigh appoints members of the board that oversees the British Transport Police.
In 2019 she mentioned that Boris Johnson had “deceived the police” and dedicated a “serious breach of trust” over claims he politicised serving officers throughout a speech in West Yorkshire.
Sir Keir Starmer promoted the Sheffield MP to shadow Northern Eire secretary in 2020 earlier than transferring her to shadow transport secretary in 2021.
On this temporary she has been an outspoken critic of the mass sacking of 800 employees by P&O Ferries in 2022.
In October, whereas transport secretary, she accused P&O of being a “rogue operator” and known as for a boycott of its providers.
The feedback precipitated the agency’s Dubai-based proprietor to evaluate a deliberate £1bn UK port funding – one thing that was re-confirmed after ministers held pressing talks with the corporate.
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Louise Haigh has been the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley since 2015
However she was publicly rebuked by Sir Keir who mentioned her opinions had been “not the view of the government”.
With connections to former Downing Road chief of employees Sue Grey, there was hypothesis her cupboard function might be beneath risk in a future reshuffle.
Ms Grey’s son, Labour MP Liam Conlon, is Ms Haigh’s parliamentary personal secretary and acts as her “eyes and ears” in parliament, whereas one other of her former staff additionally labored for the previous chief of employees earlier than she was sacked after dropping an influence wrestle inside Quantity 10.
As transport secretary, Ms Haigh was certainly one of a handful of cupboard ministers who complained to the Treasury about impending cuts within the funds.
She is taken into account to be one of many extra left-wing members of the cupboard and has vowed to “rip up the roots of Thatcherism” along with her plans for rail and bus reform.
In 2015, Ms Haigh was certainly one of a lot of Labour MPs to appoint Mr Corbyn for chief – a choice she later mentioned she regretted.
