Transport Secretary Louise Haigh Resigns Following Criminal Offence Revelation
After it was revealed that Transport Secretary Louise Haigh had pleaded guilty to making a false report to the police in 2013, she has tendered her resignation from her post. This decision comes shortly after her involvement in discussions with key figures in the car industry regarding the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
Haigh admitted to pleading guilty to falsely reporting that her mobile phone had been stolen in a mugging, a confession made around a decade ago. Despite receiving a discharge for the offence, she decided to step down from her position to avoid any distractions to her duties.
Before being elected as the MP for Sheffield Heeley in 2015, Haigh had already disclosed the discharge to Whitehall officials upon her appointment to the shadow cabinet, according to sources cited by the BBC.
In her resignation letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Haigh expressed her unwavering commitment to the Labour Party’s political objectives but believed that her support would be more effective from outside the government.
Haigh’s resignation comes at a critical time as concerns grow over the feasibility of the UK’s ZEV mandate, which requires car manufacturers to achieve a 22% electric vehicle mix of new car sales in 2024, escalating to 80% by 2030.
However, the mandate has faced criticism as demand for electric vehicles has fallen below the mandated levels, leading to challenges for car manufacturers in meeting the requirements. Nissan recently cautioned that the mandate could jeopardize investments and jobs in the UK, urging urgent government intervention to address the risks.
Ford has also called for greater flexibility in the mandate to accommodate fluctuations in EV demand, while the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders advocates for government-funded incentives to support electric vehicle purchases.
Stellantis highlighted the ZEV mandate as a contributing factor in its decision to close its van factory in Luton, Bedfordshire, with CEO Carlos Tavares expressing concerns about the policy’s impact on the UK’s car industry.
