Transport Secretary ‘pleaded guilty’ over work phone incident

Sky News and the Times paper reported connected Thursday evening that Ms Haigh admitted an offence successful 2014 pursuing the incident. She had reported to constabulary the instrumentality was stolen erstwhile she was “mugged” successful 2013.

In a statement, Ms Haigh has said she discovered “some clip later” that the telephone had not been taken.

She said the substance was a “genuine mistake” from which she “did not marque immoderate gain”, and that magistrates gave her the “lowest imaginable outcome”.

The Transport Secretary said successful her statement: “In 2013 I was mugged portion connected a nighttime out. I was a young pistillate and the acquisition was terrifying.

“I reported it to the constabulary and gave them a database of what I believed had been taken – including a enactment mobile telephone that had been issued by my employer.

“Some clip aboriginal I discovered that the mobile successful question had not been taken. In the interim I had been issued with different enactment phone.

“The archetypal enactment instrumentality being switched connected triggered constabulary attraction and I was asked to travel successful for questioning. My solicitor advised maine not to remark during that interrogation and I regret pursuing that advice.

“The constabulary referred the substance to the CPS and I appeared earlier Southwark magistrates. Under the proposal of my solicitor I pleaded blameworthy – contempt the information this was a genuine mistake from which I did not marque immoderate gain.

“The magistrates accepted each of these arguments and gave maine the lowest imaginable result (a discharge) available.”

Ms Haigh has been Sheffield Heeley MP since 2015, and held a fig of shadiness ministerial and shadiness furniture roles earlier becoming Transport Secretary erstwhile Labour won the predetermination successful July.

It is understood the incidental was disclosed successful afloat erstwhile she joined the shadiness cabinet. Details connected the circumstantial offence were not instantly clear.

The seat of the Conservative Party said the Prime Minister has “serious questions” to reply astir the matter.

Nigel Huddleston said successful a statement: “These are highly concerning revelations astir the idiosyncratic liable for managing £30 cardinal of taxpayers’ money.

“Keir Starmer has superior questions to reply regarding what helium knew and erstwhile astir the idiosyncratic helium appointed arsenic Transport Secretary admitting to having misled the police.”