Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed Louise Haigh, a convicted fraudster, to a key Cabinet position.
Haigh will lead the newly created Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, overseeing operations in London and Manchester and, most controversially, “Propriety and ethics” in government and the Civil Service.
The appointment follows Burnham’s broader restructuring efforts, which include establishing “No 10 North” in Manchester—a location where he previously served as mayor. The term “No 10” refers to 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence.
Haigh’s government profile outlines her responsibilities: oversight of all Cabinet Office policy, coordination and delivery of cross-government priorities, oversight of national security policy coordination, oversight of state reform and Civil Service reform, communications policy for Government, propriety and ethics, and public appointments.
The decision has drawn significant scrutiny due to Haigh’s prior conviction for making a false police report. This incident led to her resignation as transport secretary under Sir Keir Starmer in 2024. Her fraud conviction, now considered “spent,” involved misleading police about a phone that was still in her possession.
The government states that the reassignment of oversight responsibilities for the Public Sector Fraud Authority from Haigh’s position to Pat McFadden—Burnham’s Work and Pensions Secretary—is unrelated to her status as a convicted fraudster.
