Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has said he will resign as an MP, after he pleaded guilty to to perverting the course of justice.
Huhne admitted charges against him over claims his ex-wife Vicky Pryce took speeding points for him a decade ago.
Aides to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the BBC he was “shocked and saddened” by the Lib Dem MP’s conduct.
A by-election is now expected in his seat of Eastleigh in Hampshire, where he has a majority of nearly 4,000.
The prime minister’s official spokesman declined to comment on the former minister’s resignation, saying only: “It is a matter for Mr Huhne.”
He telephoned Mr Clegg last night to tell him of his decision to plead guilty and to stand down from Parliament.
In a statement outside court following his guilty plea, Huhne said: “Having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign my Eastleigh seat in Parliament, which I will do shortly.”
Constituency party officials in the seat are expected to make a statement later today.
As legal proceedings are currently taking place, personal comments about either Vicky or Chris won’t be published at least until the trial has concluded and then only if they’re in accordance with our published comments policy.
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10 Comments
Chris Huhne has taken responsibility for something he did, and that is a sad situation for him.
Having a strong interest in law, I have sympathy for this error of judgement. Today , he has made a very brave move.
Shocked and saddened makes it sound like someone decent died, disgusted and appalled should be the line.
I hope people are speeding to Eastleigh as we speak, to get the Lib Dem voice re-established.
I don’t know about an error of judgement. He knew at the time – and last year when he denied the offence – that he was guilty as charged, and perverting the course of justice carries a serious custodial sentence.
If he had ‘taken responsibility’ at the time, he would have copped 3 points and possibly a short ban: inconvenient, but hard earth shattering.
By attempting to wriggle out of justice and by lying, he has brought about his own demise, as well as showing himself unfit for office. I see no reason at all for any particular sadness.
Helen Dudden – He wasn’t exactly quick to take responsibility.
This morning in court he felt it the correct thing to do. That is where you are allowed to state your case.
I still feel that was a brave thing to do.
@Helen Dudden. With the greatest respect, I just cannot understand your logic. There is absolutely nothing brave in a ‘criminal’ (for I believe that is what Huhne can properly be called) confessing. It seems to me that until just days ago he was prepared to bluff and lie his way through the court procedure. Instead he appears to have been out-maneuvered by those who uphold the law, and by simple honesty. I believe his confession was not remotely praiseworthy; he realised that the game was up, and was forced to face the truth – very reluctantly.
Helen – especially brave following two unsuccessful attempts to get the case thrown out of course! I do rather feel Chris felt he had run out of options given the damning evidence which has come to light today.
Double standards, so many sympathetic voices for someone who had everything and got caught treating the law as though it was optional. If he was a teacher he would have lost his job, probably before the trail, let alone being given the luxury of resigning after it (the system of course doesn’t prevent a sitting MP drawing a salary whilst both guilty and in prison). Simple. No excuses. Politicians only exist to make laws – if they break them they are nothing but hypocrites. Stop expressing sympathy for this man and start making the rules tougher.
Helen is right about sadness, simply because a person of great ability with the power to do a lot of good has been brought down by a fatal weakness. It’s a classic Greek tragedy.