Story perspectives

Burnham appoints convicted Louise Haigh as First Secretary

7/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Andy Burnham appointed MP Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley) as First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Haigh left Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet in November 2024 after a fraud conviction for misreporting a work mobile phone.
She secured John Healey as Chancellor and leads the ‘Northern Queens’ group with Lisa Nandy and Anneliese Midgley.
Critics say her conviction harms integrity, while Burnham’s administration calls the offence a minor infraction.

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Story summary

Andy Burnham appointed MP Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley) as First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Haigh left Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet in November 2024 after a fraud conviction for misreporting a work mobile phone.
She secured John Healey as Chancellor and leads the ‘Northern Queens’ group with Lisa Nandy and Anneliese Midgley.
Critics say her conviction harms integrity, while Burnham’s administration calls the offence a minor infraction.