The first rule of politics is one you’d hope all senior ministers would be well aware of.
Put simply, unless you are absolutely certain of your own saintlihood then be very cautious about the rocks you throw. And if you’re a convicted criminal then I think it’d be better to avoid politics altogether – nevermind accepting a role as Transport Minister.
On Friday, Labour MP Louise Haigh quit Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet mere hours after it emerged that she was convicted of fraud for claiming she had her mobile phone stolen in a mugging. It was after that murky event a decade ago – I think quite remarkably – that she pushed herself forward to become an MP. This in itself is a massive red flag.
I’m a councillor myself and, albeit on a much lower rung of the politics ladder, it’s crucial that you have a pretty clean slate. Because believe me when I say – they will come for you. You will be researched within an inch of your life and anything that you’re even the slightest bit uncomfortable about will be made known by an army of internet sleuths. If you’re uneasy about this then my advice is simple: don’t bother.
When the news broke about Haigh I confess her face didn’t immediately spring to mind. It took a bit of a Google to reacquaint myself with her Parliamentary record. But as soon as I saw the phrase “terrier-like” – something that former leader of the house John Bercow dubbed her due to her proliferation of speeches and questions as an MP – the penny dropped. Oh, it’s her.
The Member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley quickly rose to prominence after her election in 2015 and eventually became the youngest member of Starmer’s cabinet at 37.
What is totally crazy is that despite her criminal history she felt entirely at ease with absolutely butchering Boris over his covid rule-breaking. Of course people have very different feelings about what went on at Number 10 and 11 during those awful days. Although police did investigate the resultant fines were not criminal convictions that were dealt with by the court.
She said at the time that the British people wanted a prime minister they could “trust and respect”. I mean, would you dare?!
Haigh also sticks out in my mind for two other dubious reasons.
The first is opening her big mouth about P&O Ferries calling the company a “rogue operator” on the eve of a £1bn investment deal for the UK, which had them threatening to pull out. And then there was her insistence that train drivers should be given inflation busting pay rises whilst pensioners across the country freeze after the snatching of their winter fuel allowance. Not exactly a record to be proud of.
The big question now is why did Starmer appoint Haigh as a cabinet minister when he was made aware about the conviction in 2020?
And Haigh? Well, if I was her I’d not just be standing down as minister I’d promptly be triggering a by-election in Sheffield. The majority there is a pretty tough nut to crack by any opposition party – she has a whopping majority and over 55% of the vote – with the Greens in second place and Tories trailing in third. But hell, with how things are going with the Labour party at the moment it’s one they should definitely go full throttle for should the oppotunity present itself.
I’ll leave you with Haigh’s very own words on Boris, who she said should have the “decency to resign by now.” Well Haigh, on this occasion I’d take a word of your own advice – and not just as Transport Secretary.
