LONDON — On Friday, Louise Haigh, the British Transport Minister, announced her resignation due to a fraud conviction dating back ten years involving a claim that her mobile phone had been stolen.
In her correspondence to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, she expressed that while she remains dedicated to the political goals they share, it would be more effective for her to support the party from outside the government.

Haigh acknowledged that regardless of the circumstances, the situation would divert attention from the government’s agenda and the policies they are both passionate about.
The news of her resignation followed reports from Sky News and The Times of London detailing her fraud charges related to the theft of a work cellphone after a mugging incident in 2013.
Although she initially reported the phone as stolen, Haigh later explained that it was an honest error on her part.

The situation escalated when she recovered the phone and turned it back on, leading to police questioning. She ultimately admitted to committing fraud through misrepresentation, resulting in a conditional discharge from the court.
In her statement made before resigning, she clarified that under legal advice she accepted a guilty plea, despite it being a genuine error with no intention of profit involved.
The magistrates recognized her arguments and imposed the lightest penalty available, which was a discharge.

Haigh, who is 37 years old, has served as the representative for Sheffield in the Parliament since 2015.
She was appointed to the prominent role of transport minister following the election of Starmer’s Labour party in July.