Convicted fraudster-turned-cabinet minister Louise Haigh has pleaded with the public to forgive her former sins. Haigh, a key operator in Andy Burnham’s coup against Sir Keir Starmer, is now First Secretary of State and will help oversee Labour’s new devolution agenda.
The arch-leftie was booted out of Sir Keir’s top team after it emerged that she had falsely reported to police in 2013 that her work mobile phone had been stolen during a mugging. Haigh insisted it was a genuine mistake after later finding the device, but pleaded guilty to fraud.
Naturally, that hasn’t stopped Burnham rewarding the ally who helped propel him into No. 10 with one of the plummest jobs in Westminster. Pushed on her conviction on the airwaves this morning, Haigh grovelled:
I made a mistake 13 years ago. I hope your listeners will accept that I have paid the price and I hope they will give me a second chance to serve in government. It’s a great honour to serve in government under Andy Burnham. Andy’s talked about a changed culture in the government and in the party.
Changed culture indeed. When Burnham came calling, Mr S suspects Haigh was hardly going to report this opportunity missing…
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