MP to move constituency office over safety fears

An MP has said she is moving her constituency office due to safety fears.

Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, said the situation at her office in Sheffield had "recently tipped over the edge to the point where my staff and I no longer feel safe" following a number of incidents that were believed to be targeted.

The Sheffield Heeley MP declined to comment further and has not disclosed the location of her new office, but said she would continue to be "accessible" to her constituents.

"The office move will in no way hamper our ability to deliver for our community but it is incredibly sad that we are no longer able to occupy a high street location," she wrote on social media.

Haigh said she had been based on Chesterfield Road for more than a decade.

"It's with sadness that I have made the very difficult decision to move out of my office," her post read.

"Over the years we have experienced multiple incidents of criminality and unfortunately it has recently tipped over the edge to the point where my staff and I no longer feel safe.

"I will of course continue to be accessible to constituents by appointment, via email and social media and I am out in the community engaging and knocking on doors constantly."

A spokesperson for the MP said she would remain based within her constituency, with face-to-face appointments available by arrangement.

They insisted the "numerous" incidents at her office, including vandalism and graffiti, had been targeted rather than instances of general anti-social behaviour.

South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.

Haigh's announcement came after another Labour MP, Sarah Owen, said she would suspend face-to-face meetings with constituents due to security concerns.

The killing of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP David Amess at his constituency surgery in 2021 have heightened fears around the safety of politicians.

Haigh has been an MP since 2015, and held a number of shadow ministerial and shadow cabinet roles before becoming transport secretary when Labour returned to power in July 2024.

She resigned four months later it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago.

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