Greyduster
I’m not a labour voter - never have been, never will be, but I know that Louise Hague was a good, hard working constituency MP. Saddened and disappointed by this. A waste.
Agreed, a very hard working and conscientious local MP
What actually happened (BBC)
Following reports by Sky and The Times on Thursday, Haigh issued a statement, explaining she made a police report after a "terrifying" mugging in London.
She said she reported the phone as one of a number of items she believed had been stolen, and was issued with a new work phone.
Some time later, she discovered the handset was still in her house, and she switched it on, which "triggered police attention" and she was called in for questioning.
"My solicitor advised me not to comment during that interview and I regret following that advice," she said, and the matter was sent to magistrates.
Haigh said she pleaded guilty to making a false report to police at a magistrates' court, six months before becoming an MP in the 2015 election, and received a discharge - the "lowest possible outcome".
She added: "Under the advice of my solicitor I pleaded guilty – despite the fact this was a genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain."
On Friday she sent her resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer, saying she did not want to become a distraction and Labour would be "best served by my supporting you from outside government”.
In response, Sir Keir said Haigh had made “huge strides” as transport secretary to take the rail system back into public ownership, and thanked her for her work.
