Pat McFadden has defended Keir Starmer’s appointment of Louise Haigh as the new Transport Secretary, despite controversy surrounding her past fraud conviction. This decision has sparked discussions on political appointments and their impact on leadership within the Labour Party.
On BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, McFadden responded to a clip showing Starmer criticising Boris Johnson during the partygate scandal. In the clip, Starmer argued that one cannot be both a “lawmaker and a lawbreaker.” This raised questions about Starmer’s consistency, given Haigh’s decade-old fraud conviction.
McFadden was asked if Starmer knew about Haigh’s criminal record before appointing her. He answered, “I don’t know who knew what when.” He also said that Starmer made the right decision in appointing Haigh, calling her a “good” choice for the Cabinet.
In an interview with Sky News, McFadden rejected claims of hypocrisy. He said, “No, he’s not. He’s appointed a strong Cabinet. It’s more united than I’ve seen in years, and we’re working together on a plan for change that we will reveal this week. It will outline our priorities.”
Haigh’s appointment and the wider Cabinet reshuffle have sparked debate over past convictions and their impact on political appointments. However, McFadden and other Labour figures continue to support Starmer’s leadership.
