Louise Haigh had been the youngest member of the Cabinet before it came to light that she had an old conviction for fraud by misrepresentation

Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago. Downing Street has named justice minister Heidi Alexander as her replacement. Haigh has admitted telling police in 2013 she had lost her work mobile phone in a mugging, but later found it had not been taken.

Labour’s plan to nationalise the railways has been thrown into chaos following the resignation of Louise Haigh as Transport Secretary. Industry sources warned that Ms Haigh’s departure could hold up crucial legislation and delay the launch of state-owned Great British Railways (GBR) beyond next year.