Keir Starmer turned the tables on Kemi Badenoch during PMQs after the Tory leader tried to land a blow over Louise Haigh’s resignation. In true parliamentary theatre style, the prime minister responded with a subtle—but effective—dig at her party’s own history of lawbreaking.
Badenoch’s Dig Over Haigh’s Fraud Conviction
The drama began when Badenoch questioned Starmer about Haigh’s sudden resignation as transport secretary, following revelations of her 2014 fraud conviction. “He owes the House an explanation,” Badenoch said, accusing Starmer of failing to vet Haigh properly.
“What was the further information that came to light?” she pressed.
Starmer, keeping his cards close, replied: “I’m not going to disclose private conversations. Further information came to light, and the [transport] secretary resigned. What a marked contrast.”
The Gloves Come Off
Not satisfied, Badenoch doubled down: “The truth is he appointed a person convicted of fraud to the cabinet.” She then accused Haigh of handing striking train workers a hefty pay rise, calling it “a fraud on the British people.” Badenoch went for the zinger: “The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions.”
But Starmer wasn’t fazed. “Mr Speaker,” he said, “I gently remind her that two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking the Covid laws.”
Cue awkward silence on the Tory benches.
A Party Haunted by Partygate
Starmer’s quip referred to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, both of whom were fined for breaking Covid lockdown rules during the infamous partygate scandal. In 2022, the then-prime minister and his chancellor received fixed penalty notices for attending lockdown-breaching gatherings in Downing Street—a scandal that shook the nation and left the Tories reeling.
While Badenoch’s spokesperson later tried to downplay the fines, claiming they weren’t criminal convictions, Starmer’s dig hit home.
Haigh’s Resignation: What Really Happened?
Haigh’s 2014 conviction stems from a bizarre incident in which she falsely claimed her work phone had been stolen during a mugging, only to later find it at home. Her decision to stay silent during police questioning—on legal advice—resulted in a fraud conviction.
When asked about the details of Haigh’s departure, Starmer’s team remained tight-lipped, simply stating that new information had emerged.
Labour Fires Back
A Labour source seized the moment to twist the knife: “If the Conservatives want a row about their criminality while in Downing Street, that’s fine by us.” They reminded Badenoch of the stark difference between Haigh’s decade-old spent conviction and Johnson and Sunak’s lockdown breaches while running the country.
“The fact is two of her predecessors broke the law with partying while telling the public to follow the rules. She might want to rethink calling it ‘overblown.’”
The Takeaway
While Badenoch tried to land a punch, Starmer’s quick wit turned the exchange into a masterclass in political judo. By the end of the session, the focus had shifted from Haigh’s past to the Tories’ own troubles, proving once again that in politics, it’s all about who delivers the last—and sharpest—word.
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