Starmer has no other option but to attempt a relaunch

Louise Haigh's resignation from cabinet will mark a return to more disciplined, joined-up government, says Andrew Grice

- Andrew Grice

Keir Starmer’s government has reached another unwanted if inevitable milestone – its first cabinet resignation.

Louise Haigh’s swift departure at least limited the damage for Starmer, who was true to his pre-election promise not to tolerate any rule-breaking. He told his biographer Tom Baldwin: “People will only believe we’re changing politics when I fire someone on the spot... It doesn’t matter who it is, they’ll be sacked.”

For many Labour figures, the treatment of the popular Haigh seems harsh, but there was only going to be one answer when the prime minister faced his first question on this subject.

An awful lot has happened in a government that is just five months old: a baptism of fire with the summer riots; controversy over a decision to means-test the pensioners’ winter fuel allowance; turmoil inside Downing Street, ending in the sacking of Sue Gray, the prime minister’s chief of staff; and damaging headlines over freebies.

Ministers hoped last month’s Budget would provide a reset. But it provoked a backlash from business and farmers that is not over yet. Now, the PM is about to attempt another relaunch. He won’t call it that; politicians hate the word, since it concedes that they are stuck in the mud.