UNION leaders praised Louise Haigh today after she was replaced as transport secretary.

The Sheffield Heeley MP resigned after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

It is understood the incident was disclosed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when she joined the shadow cabinet.

But a Downing Street spokesman repeatedly said her resignation came “following further information emerging” while refusing to say whether Sir Keir had known about the conviction or specifying what the new information was.

Asked whether she was asked to resign or offered to, he replied: “She resigned.”

Ms Haigh said that she was mugged in London while in her 20s and gave police a list of stolen possessions, including a work phone, when she reported the incident.

She said she later found the phone was still in her house.

Ms Haigh pleaded guilty in court over the incident on the advice of a solicitor and magistrates gave her the “lowest possible outcome,” she said in a statement.

It is understood that the offence was “fraud by false representation” and that the conviction is now spent.

After Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander was appointed to replace her as transport secretary, Momentum co-chair Sasha Das Gupta said: “As a former director of the Crown Prosecution Service, Keir Starmer should know that a spent conviction provides the opportunity for people to rehabilitate.

“It’s clear his decision to remove Louise Haigh from the Cabinet and replace her with someone on the Labour right is not about her previous offence. It’s a brazen manoeuvre to stifle pro-union voices within government.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Louise achieved a great deal during her time as transport secretary including laying the foundations for the public ownership of our railways — a landmark achievement that prioritises the needs of passengers and workers over private profit.

“Her vision and dedication have set the stage for a fairer, more efficient, and publicly accountable transport system.”

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We are sorry to see Louise Haigh leave her role.