Scandal-plagued Energy Secretary resigns
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne and his (ex) wife Vicky in 2010. Pic from www.thesun.co.uk
Scandal-plagued Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has dramatically quit — after he and his ex-wife were told they WILL face court over their alleged speeding points scam.
The love rat Lib Dem — accused of dodging a ban by getting his missus to say she was at the wheel — insisted minutes after telling the PM he was resigning: "I am innocent."
He faces court in just over a week. The millionaire, 57, vowed to mount a "robust defence" against a charge of perverting the course of justice. People convicted of similar offences in recent years have received sentences of up to a year.
Huhne branded the decision to haul him into court "regrettable". Speaking outside his London home he declared: "I intend to fight this in the courts and I am confident that a jury will agree."
Last night Labour heaped further humiliation on the ex-Cabinet heavyweight — who owns eight houses — by insisting he should forfeit the £17,207 "golden goodbye" handed to ministers who resign.
Huhne has spent more than a year dogged by claims about a speed camera that allegedly flashed his car NINE YEARS ago. Wife Vicky, 58, said after he dumped her in 2010 that he asked "someone" to take the penalty on his behalf to avoid losing his licence.
Vicky — whose husband had been cheating on her with bisexual press aide Carina Trimingham — also faces a charge of perverting justice.
She and her ex will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 16.
High-flying Huhne's political career finally began to implode at 9am yesterday — when the Crown Prosecution Service informed him of its decision.
It follows an eight-month probe by Essex police. The news was broken to David Cameron at 9.10am as he was being driven to RAF Northolt to fly to the South West for a visit.
At 10am, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer publicly announced the charges. Less than an hour later Huhne had phoned the PM to resign.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg — the Coalition's Deputy PM — backed Huhne to clear his name, urging him to return to government "as soon as possible".
But Mr Cameron pointedly made no mention of a possible comeback after being forced into a mini reshuffle. Business Minister Ed Davey is the new Secretary for Energy and Climate Change.
Huhne is the third minister — and the second senior Lib Dem — to be forced out of the Coalition Cabinet following the exits of David Laws and Liam Fox.
The PM told him: "I am sorry to see you leave the Government under these circumstances and wish you well for the future."
