Monday 16 May 2011
The pressure on Chris Huhne over allegations he attempted to dodge a driving ban was intensified this weekend when reports of a taped phone call surfaced in the sunday papers.
Mr Huhne was secretly taped during a conversation with a supposed witness, when he is reported as saying: "If I were you... do not talk. I would have thought you would not want to talk," according to The Sunday Times.
Essex Police has appointed a senior detective to establish if the 2003 speeding offence took place after Labour MP Simon Danczuk lodged a formal complaint with police following a newspaper interview with Mr Huhne's estranged wife, Vicky Pryce.
Det Supt Tim Wills said: "We take any allegations of criminal offences extremely seriously. However, an investigation will not be formally launched until our enquiries show that an offence has been committed. This is the work that my team and I will be carrying out this week."
The Energy Secretary has countered the claims and a Lib Dem spokesperson told ELN today: "Chris denies the allegations and beyond that there is nothing."