Monday 4 February 2013

Chris Huhne pleads guilty over penalty points

Former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the court of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him.

The former Cabinet Minister stepped down as Energy Secretary after the charges against him last February but denied the allegations. The charges date back to March 2003 when Huhne’s car was allegedly caught speeding on the motorway between Stansted Airport and London.

Speaking outside Southwark crown court today, Mr Huhne announced he will resign as an MP: “I have pleaded guilty today. I am unable to say more while there is an outstanding trial. But having taken responsibility for something that happened ten years ago the only proper course of action for me is to resign my Eastleigh seat in parliament, which I will do very shortly. And that's all I'm able to say today.”

His former wife, Vicky Pryce, however, has not pleaded guilty to the same offence.

ELN called the DECC office but not surprisingly, they refused to comment.