The Prime Minister again refused to provide details about the transport secretary's resignation over fraud charges that occurred before he became a member of parliament.
Keir Starmer has repeatedly refused to reveal “further information” that led to Louise Haig's resignation last week.
Mr Hague resigned after it emerged he had admitted criminal offenses related to falsely telling police his work phone had been stolen in 2013. Mr Starmer is said to have been exposed about the incident when he joined the shadow cabinet.
During Prime Minister's Questions Period on Wednesday, Mr Starmer was repeatedly pressed by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch to explain why he had “knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster to his cabinet”.
Mr Badenoch told the meeting: “The question today is what all Labor MPs were saying, including the Health Secretary yesterday – the Prime Minister knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster as Transport Secretary. Were you thinking?”
“What this country needs is politicians with principles, not politicians with principles,” she said.
But Mr Starmer insisted he would not disclose personal information and reminded the Tory leader that two of his predecessors had been found guilty of breaking coronavirus rules.
He highlighted the actions of previous Conservative leaders, saying Mr Hague's decision to resign was a “striking contrast” to the Conservative Party's actions over the past 14 years.
“The former Secretary of Transportation was right to resign when more information came out. What a stark contrast to his actions over the past 14 years,” he said.
Mr Badenoch accused Mr Starmer of “obfuscating”, adding: He owes the family an explanation. He said the former transport secretary was asked to resign only after more information came to light. What more information was there? ”
Mr Haig was advised by No. 10 to resign on the grounds that he had failed to inform the government that he had been convicted of fraud when he became a minister, potentially in breach of the Ministerial Code.
Sources said Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, sent a message to Haig on Thursday night saying it was in his best interest to resign.
They said Haig did not report a 2014 conviction for falsely reporting a stolen mobile phone to police because he was only asked about the outstanding charge. She pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was released conditionally.
Three sources said Mr Hague told Mr Starmer about the conviction when he became Northern Ireland's shadow secretary in 2020.
But Mr Starmer's official spokesperson on Friday refused to confirm whether the prime minister had known about the conviction at any point.
In 2022, Boris Johnson became the first Prime Minister to face criminal penalties while in office. Amid the Partygate scandal, he, his wife and then chancellor Rishi Sunak received £50 fixed penalty notices from Scotland Yard.
A Fixed Penalty Notice is considered a criminal sanction, but not a criminal conviction.
