TRANSPORT Secretary Louise Haigh has admitted she is a convicted fraudster after she told police her phone had been stolen.
The Labor Minister, 37, says she was mugged during a “terrifying” night out in 2013 and gave police a list of items missing from her bag.
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Louise Haigh told Sir Keir Starmer about the conviction in 2020
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Haigh claims she was robbed in a ‘terrifying experience’ in 2013
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Haigh gave police a list of the items stolen from her, claiming her business phone was missingCredit: Alamy
She also included her business cell phone on that list, but “a little later” she discovered that it was not actually stolen.
Haigh told Sky News she regretted the mistake and pleaded guilty to an offense of misleading the police.
The Guardian reports that Haigh was given a conditional discharge for fraud by false representation.
She said she was called to speak with the police when the phone at work was on.
In a statement, she said: “My lawyer advised me not to comment during that conversation and I regret taking that advice.
“The police referred the case to the CPS and I appeared before Southwark magistrates.
“On the advice of my lawyer, I pleaded guilty – despite the fact that this was a genuine mistake from which I had no benefit.”
Sky News cites sources as saying that Haigh made the false claim in order to personally benefit and get a newer phone from the company.
Two sources claimed she lost her job at the time because of the incident.
At the time, Haigh was working as head of public policy at insurance company Aviva.
Transport Minister Louise Haigh has admitted she was convicted of fraud after she told police her phone had been stolen
She worked in the company between 2012 and 2015, after which she was elected as a representative in Sheffield Heeley.
Haigh appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court six months before the 2015 general election in which she was elected to parliament.
In her statement, Haigh claimed the court had given her the lowest possible outcome, a discharge.
Her conviction is now considered “spent.”
She denounced Sir Keir Starmer in 2020 after he appointed her shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.
Tory leader Nigel Huddleston has slammed the prime minister for appointing a convicted fraudster to his cabinet.
He said: “These are extremely worrying revelations about the person responsible for managing £30bn of taxpayers’ money.
“Keir Starmer must answer serious questions about what and when he knew about the person he appointed as Transport Secretary who admitted misleading the police.”
An Aviva spokeswoman said she was not commenting.
Louise Haigh was invited to comment.
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At the time, Haigh was working as head of public policy at insurance company AvivaCredit: PA
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Haigh said she pleaded guilty on the advice of a lawyer
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