How is a convicted fraudster fit to manage Andy Burnham’s campaign?
Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh has been managing Andy Burnham's campaign. .
“Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, was delivering a speech at Leeds City Hall on the day it became clear that someone was trying to snuff out her career. A story about her criminal record had been leaked to two news outlets. She resigned the morning after the news broke, on November 29, 2024, after just four months in the job.
If you remember the MP for Sheffield Heeley at all, it’s likely because of what emerged in the weeks that followed: Haigh had pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation in 2014, a fact of which she informed Sir Keir Starmer before her appointment to the Cabinet, but that had been kept from the public. Her version of the story is that she reported her work phone as stolen after she was mugged on a night out in 2013, only to later find it in her drawer. When she switched the phone on, an alert was sent to her employer, Aviva, which referred the case to the police.
Court documents made public at the start of 2025 reveal that she admitted to having lied about the loss of her BlackBerry so that her employer would replace it with a swish ”
Sunshinegirls
Louise Haigh resigned as Transport Secretary in November 2024 after it was revealed she pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. The conviction stemmed from a 2013 incident where she lied about her work mobile phone being stolen in a mugging to secure a replacement from her employer. Google
Oh, for heavens sake. It's like groundhog day on here. We've already covered this in the past couple of days.
And where did the two phones accusation come from?
Monica. I don't think she was 'young and stupid' at the time as she must have been around mid 20's so it's not a youthful mistake. We all make mistakes but surely once she found her phone the natural thing to do would have been to contact the police or whoever and explain her error. Instead she chose to carry on in the hopes of getting a newer model from her employer. IMO if she is willing to be dishonest over that I would seriously question her integrity.
According to the i newspaper today, L Haigh has admitted that she and Burnham had been plotting Starmer's removal for the last year.
Fury at losing her job in cabinet? Starmer may have requested her resignation.
She will definitely have a job in Burham's cabinet.
There is much questioning of integrity in politics- rightly so.
The expectations and recriminations applied to Haigh deserves to be applied to every MP and minister that has served in the UK since 2013- the time of Haigh's mugging.
Let's have a full across the scale disclosure - let's say going back to 2013, from every single MP and minster that has served since then publish. Bit like they publicly publish annual tax returns in some nordic countries. Those in the know can refute disclosures if dishonest and not complete e.g. HMRC, Police services, DBS etc. The country would like to know:
1) Every lie that every MP has ever told.
2) Every police caution, unconditional police discharge, every suspended sentence and all higher convictions for every single MP
3) Confirmation by accredited. tax accountants they have paid the correct amount of tax payable for each year
4) Confirmation that they have not breached any MP or ministerial standards and if so what they were.
5) Detail of benefits and gifts they have each received, each year ranging from spectacles to flights, to hotels, to luxury accommodation to £5 million sums of money or more....
6) any restraining orders against them for the protection of others etc
Haigh did disclose her unconditional caution and the press outed her 2 years ago and she resigned. So her disclosure has been known for 2 years.
Would be way more, and way worse misdemeanours, more serious convictions (unconditional discharge is the lowest level) higher level fraud than the value of a mobile phone.
Cant wait to see the long list from Boris! Many could be outed by HMRC, Parliamentary Standards Committee etc.
Not sure all other the other misbehaving MPs would be as honourable in offering their resignation as did Haigh when she was outed in 2024 🤷♀️
Romola
According to the i newspaper today, L Haigh has admitted that she and Burnham had been plotting Starmer's removal for the last year.
Fury at losing her job in cabinet? Starmer may have requested her resignation.
She will definitely have a job in Burham's cabinet.
Haigh resigned of her own accord- Starmer was supportive. My take is she paid her dues when outed.
She has continued to be a well regarded MP in her constituency. She has openly been an ally of Burnham. No logical reason why she should not be able to serve in government.
Louise Haigh if appointed in a significant role is going to be hounded by the press.
Her previous caution will never go away, as far as they are concerned.
Haigh was warned an unconditional (or absolute discharge) not a caution, which is considered less severe than a caution in the eyes of the law.
An unconditional discharge is the lowest, least severe sentence a court can give A judge decides to give this because experience of court was enough
Sentencing guidelines and law will mean little to certain sections of the press.
Haigh is an able, well regarded MP- she was outed 2 years ago and resigned so this is old news. Haigh will probably just continue to get on with the job as MP and as a minister no doubt if given a place in cabinet as she has done for the past 2 years without a fuss on her side.
The right wing press e.g. Daily T and DM will continue hound her no doubt- if thats what their readers like to read- SNAFU- about an unconditional discharge given 11 years ago. We also see that some posters on Gransnet will continue to bring up this old news, frequently, what's new 🤷♀️
given not warned
She commtted fraud and was in a position of trust - WRONG!! They've been quick enough to blast Mr Farage when I gather he did nothing wrong.
Haigh was not a political at the time- so not in a position of public trust. It happened in 2013, before she entered politics as I understand. Having an unconditional discharge is not a bar to becoming a teacher, a nurse, a doctor and MP etc. does not stop anyone becoming an MP. It does not air a person from standing for election. See Representation of The People Act 1981.
he was given the lowest court sentence of an unconditional discharge regarding this mobile phone incident. She was investigated many years ago by the police and outcome published in the press 2 years ago; she opted to resign due to media distraction. Certain sections of then media can keep rising the matter but so what? She has paid her dues.
Just as Haigh is open to scrutiny and censure over a mobile phone incident after she was mugged 13 years ago, Farage is also open to scrutiny. He has more and more recent, and current actions that bring his integrity honesty into equations, one of which is subject to investigation ( currently suspended as a result of his by election stunt) about £5 million sum not a mobile phone! .
You may gather Farage has done nothing wrong but you don't yet know the facts as the investigation has not yet concluded yet.
Haigh wasn't in politics at the time. Farage is, an MP and party leader no less. If Farage in shown to have broken parliamentary rules should Farage then resign as did Haigh?
Galaxy
The power doesn't lie with newspapers anymore, I am not sure the absolute change in how people consume news/political discourse has been fully appreciated.
Yes. You can read/hear/watch the news and opinions on the news in so many different ways.
Physical newspapers are less popular now than online versions. You can read headlines so quickly.
The thing that hasn’t changed is the support for the newspaper of your choice and the dismissal of any others.
Or how people who would never read the . . . know so much about the contents.
What a filthy business politics is..🙄
graciemabel
She commtted fraud and was in a position of trust - WRONG!! They've been quick enough to blast Mr Farage when I gather he did nothing wrong.
Labour seems to have a thing for taking on people who have dubious pasts which is pretty stupid because they must know they will always get found out.
Never a truer word Primrose53, I do wonder where that leaves Reform?
He denied the grooming gangs that’s done it for me.
He did not deny the grooming gangs, he initiated a major review, but he favoured a regional approach to a national inquiry. At least be accurate in your criticism.
It obvious that Reform has the biggest thing for taking on the highest number of people with dubious pasts- pretty stupid as they will always get found out- plus even it’s leader’s dubious actions currently subject to investigation on top of his dubious past..
Farage also facing a challenge to hold onto his MP seat- Count Bin Face currently has a 60% lead over him according to Ipsos poll.
If he doesn’t win that would be star prize for stupidity.
Why not dig dirt on AB and his cohorts? The media ruthlessly and relentlessly hound Farage. But I suppose it's different for the Labour party, because after all they occupy the moral high ground...
undines
Why not dig dirt on AB and his cohorts? The media ruthlessly and relentlessly hound Farage. But I suppose it's different for the Labour party, because after all they occupy the moral high ground...
I have to say undines, if you don’t think every possible stone was looked under and used against Starmer, you have been sleep walking for the last two years. It’s now Farage’s turn, and there is fertile ground. All politicians are fair game for the media, if there is dirt, it’s dug.
theburnhamprogramme.co.uk/reindustrialisation
This is what Ive been banging on about for ages, get Britain producing instead of importing.
Make no mistake this is going to be expensive because we have fallen behind so far, either taxes have to rise or borrowing increase or both.
Borrowing to increase productivity and growth is not a problem it's what every business does if it wants to compete, if the UK wants to compete it must invest in growth. For decades that is exactly what has not been done by previous governments.
If and it is a big IF his MPs support that policy it could bring a big revival for the UK, we will see.
Menopauselbitch
He denied the grooming gangs that’s done it for me.
What does that mean and where is the evidence please?
Anyone in the public eye is bound to attract media attention and now, with so much social media available, anyone in the news, especially if running for high office must know that their every utterance for at least the last 25 years is going to be analysed in minute detail. It goes with the job, so they, and their supporters must just like it or lump it.
M0nica
Anyone in the public eye is bound to attract media attention and now, with so much social media available, anyone in the news, especially if running for high office must know that their every utterance for at least the last 25 years is going to be analysed in minute detail. It goes with the job, so they, and their supporters must just like it or lump it.
Well put M0nica.
This is especially true when the GBP knows they are paying for them and whether they feel they are getting value for money.
For example, those unhappy with the state of the roads may wonder why they are paying for Simon Lightwood, or Steve Reed and even funding the local county councils.
I don’t think it’s especially politicians actually, I think it’s true of nobody who is in the public eye, particularly if they are somebody the media has decided needs bringing down a peg or two. Even teenagers need to be aware that anything they say that is controversial may return to haunt them in later life.
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