A CABINET minister said today he did not know “who knew what, when” in relation to the criminal conviction that led to Louise Haigh quitting as transport secretary.

Ms Haigh resigned on Friday after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden told Sky News he was sorry to see Ms Haigh go, describing her as a “good colleague.” He said it is not against the law for somebody who has had a conviction to serve in Parliament.

Asked whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer knew the full story of her conviction when Ms Haigh was appointed to the Cabinet, Mr McFadden said: “I don’t know who knew what, when.

“What I know is that she made the decision to resign.

“We’ve got a new appointment, Heidi Alexander, in place, and that will mean that we continue with the agenda we’ve got, which is bringing the railways back into public ownership … and a good transport agenda going forward.”