It was supposed to be a light-hearted TV appearance — but former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh couldn’t resist reigniting a political firestorm.
Appearing on BBC One’s Have I Got News For You, the ex-Cabinet Minister, who stepped down last year after her fraud conviction resurfaced, took a thinly veiled jab at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for showing what she called “double standards” in how he handled recent controversies.
Haigh drew comparisons between her own forced resignation and the far gentler response given to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who was recently caught up in a licensing scandal involving her family home in south London.
Drawing the Comparison
The former Transport Secretary didn’t hold back when the panel brought up Reeves’ case — which involved failing to obtain a landlord’s licence for a rented property in Dulwich.
While Haigh admitted Reeves had “made a mistake,” she quickly highlighted the contrast in how Starmer handled her situation.
“The Prime Minister was absolutely right to accept her apology,” Haigh said with a smile.
Then, to laughter from the audience, she added dryly, “He was equally magnanimous with me — which is why I’m still serving as Transport Secretary.”
Her comment was dripping with sarcasm, a reminder of how she was forced to quit after her past conviction became public, despite claiming Starmer had known about it when appointing her to the Shadow Cabinet.
The Backstory: From Conviction to Resignation
Haigh’s own controversy stemmed from a 2013 incident, long before her rise in politics.
At the time, she told police her mobile phone had been stolen — only to later discover she had it all along.
The false report earned her a conditional discharge from magistrates and, years later, a major political headache.
When the story re-emerged, Haigh resigned from her role as Transport Secretary, despite insisting Starmer knew about the conviction when he brought her into his team.
“He did,” she said firmly on the BBC show. “I told him about it when I was appointed.”
Number 10, however, has maintained that the Prime Minister only accepted her resignation after “further information” came to light — though Haigh still claims she was never told what that information was.
The Reeves Controversy
Haigh’s comments came in the wake of Rachel Reeves’ own political headache.
The Chancellor had failed to secure a required licence from Southwark Council for renting out her Dulwich home — something she initially blamed on oversight.
Reeves’ husband, Nicholas Joicey, later admitted that their letting agent had informed them about the requirement, but the application was never made because the staff member responsible left the agency.
Starmer ultimately accepted Reeves’ apology, calling it an “inadvertent failure.”
The Chancellor kept her job — a decision that’s now fueling criticism from within Labour’s ranks.
Accusations of Double Standards
Not everyone in the party is happy with how things were handled.
Allies of Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and potential future Labour leader, reportedly told The Daily Telegraph that the Prime Minister’s reaction to Reeves was “soft” compared to how others — like former Deputy PM Angela Rayner — were treated for similar missteps.
“There’s always one rule for their people and another for those who challenge their control,” a Burnham ally reportedly said, suggesting Starmer’s inner circle enjoys more leniency.
“I Made a Mistake — I Owned It”
Despite the humor and jabs on Have I Got News For You, Haigh took a moment to reflect on her past mistake.
When panelist Ian Hislop pressed her to admit her offense “wasn’t a mistake — it was a conviction for fraud,” she didn’t shy away.
“It was, and it was… obviously humiliating and embarrassing,” Haigh replied. “It was wrong.
I made a mistake — I held my hands up. I got my conditional discharge.”
Her candid tone drew both laughs and respect from the audience — a reminder that, for all the political gamesmanship, some scars in Westminster still sting.
What’s Next for Louise Haigh?
While Haigh no longer holds a frontbench role, her latest remarks show she’s not ready to fade quietly into the background.
Her televised comments may have been laced with humor, but they reopened a sensitive debate inside Labour about fairness, forgiveness, and who truly gets a second chance under Starmer’s leadership.