James O'Brien reminds listeners of Tory transgressions as first Labour cabinet member resigns | LBC

James O'Brien weighs up the issue of morality in politics as he reflects on the news that former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has resigned from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet after admitting a conviction for misleading police over a 'phone theft'.

Ms Haigh, 37, earlier admitted that she pleaded guilty to making a false report after she incorrectly told police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

She had reported to police that the device was stolen when she was mugged in 2013, but in a statement said she discovered "some time later" that the phone had not been taken.

In what James describes as 'a very strange story', he questions why people have 'gone in on' a 'historical spent offence that merited only a discharge, about which her boss - Sir Keir Starmer - knew already'.

He points to many examples of 'morally bankrupt politics' in the previous Conservative government, arguing that 'impunity and entitlement' effectively summed up the final five years of Tory leadership before Labour took over.

However, he says extensive coverage of these incidents has forced the media to also 'go after Labour politicians for tiny, tiny transgressions', highlighting a feeling amongst journalists that they must look 'not at the colour of the politician's shirt, but the action that has taken place'.

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