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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2012/feb/03/chris-huhne-speeding-penalty-energy-secretary-live-updates
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| Chris Huhne charged over speeding offence – live updates | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.18am: Our crime correspondent Sandra Laville tells us the maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice is life imprisonment and/or a fine. | |
| 10.05am: Huhne will be charged, Starmer confirms. | |
| Starmer: "We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against both Mr Huhne and Miss Pryce for perverting the course of justice." | |
| Both Pryce and Huhne are to appear in court on 16 February. Huhne is now expected to leave the cabinet. | |
| Starmer said: | |
| All the available evidence, including the new material, has now been carefully considered by the CPS and we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce for perverting the course of justice. | |
| "The essence of the charges is that between March and May 2003, Mr Huhne, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted that she was the driver. | |
| Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce now stand charged with criminal offences and that they each have a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said or reported that could prejudice their right to a fair trial. | |
| 10.03am: Keir Starmer is speaking now. | |
| He says the statement is being made "in the interests of transparency and accountability". | |
| Starmer has become the DPP who gives his decision live on camera. It is part of the Crown Prosecution Service's move to be more open about the decision-making processes lawyers go through to reach their judgment to charge or not to charge. | |
| CPS lawyers had a full file of evidence by the end of August last year. What held up a decision was the legal battle with the Sunday Times over emails held by their political editor Isabel Oakeshott. | |
| The police were granted a production order but appealed the decision through the courts and it was not until two weeks ago that lawyers for the Sunday Times said they were dropping the appeal, and detectives were able to get possession of the emails. | |
| It is understood the police made it clear when they passed their file of evidence to the CPS last August that they recommended charges were brought. | |
| 10.00am: Chris Huhne will be charged, sources are briefing political journalists. | |
| 9.57am: From Ptrick Wintour's article: | |
| The alleged incident dates back nearly a decade, but only emerged after Huhne admitted an affair with PR adviser Carina Trimingham in 2010, that ended his marriage. | |
| The Sunday Times reported that he had allegedly been caught by a speed camera on 12 March 2003. | |
| He has consistently denied claims that he was the one behind the wheel and that Pryce admitted the offence because he would have faced a ban if he collected any more penalty points. | |
| Huhne is alleged to have been returning from Stansted airport to his home in Clapham, south London, on the day in question, having flown in from Strasbourg, where the European parliament sits. | |
| Images have since emerged of Pryce's driving licence, indicating that she received three points for a speeding offence in the Essex area on 12 March 2003. | |
| However, she is believed to have later said she was actually at an event in London that day. | |
| Essex police started an investigation when it was claimed in a Sunday Times interview with Pryce last May that her ex-husband asked "someone" to take speeding points on his behalf. | |
| 9.41am: BREAKING: The BBC is reporting that Vicky Pryce, Huhne's former wife, has said "I understand there will be charges". | |
| 9.38am: David Cameron said in May, shortly after the allegations first surfaced, that the energy secretary had his "full confidence". | |
| But Nick Clegg said last week that it would be a "very serious issue" if Huhne were charged, stressing: "We as a government want the highest standards of probity to be in place in everything that is done by cabinet members." | |
| If Huhne does resign, Patrick Wintour writes | |
| "It will mean the loss of one of the party's heavy hitters, prepared to stand his ground in public against the Conservatives. | |
| He has fought a rearguard action in Whitehall to keep green politics at the centre of government thinking at a time when the recession has made climate change a more difficult cause to sell. | |
| Huhne has crossed swords with a succession of Tory cabinet ministers, including the chancellor, George Osborne, the Conservative co-chairman, Lady Warsi, and the home secretary, Theresa May. | |
| Few tears will be shed in parts of Downing Street if he is prosecuted, even though Cameron is temperamentally opposed to reshuffles. | |
| There has been repeated Tory-led speculation that the business minister responsible for employment relations and the Post office, Ed Davey, would be given Huhne's job. Vince Cable, the business secretary and a former Shell economist, has been interested in the energy post in the past." | |
| Here's a great video profile of Huhne above. | |
| 9.20am: Good morning. The energy secretary, Chris Huhne, will learn this morning whether he will face charges over allegations he avoided a speeding penalty. | 9.20am: Good morning. The energy secretary, Chris Huhne, will learn this morning whether he will face charges over allegations he avoided a speeding penalty. |
| Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, will make a televised announcement at 10am on whether Huhne and his former wife, Vicky Pryce, are to be prosecuted. | Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, will make a televised announcement at 10am on whether Huhne and his former wife, Vicky Pryce, are to be prosecuted. |
| Huhne has insisted he is innocent of allegations he had persuaded Pryce to accept penalty points for speeding, in an incident in March 2003. | Huhne has insisted he is innocent of allegations he had persuaded Pryce to accept penalty points for speeding, in an incident in March 2003. |
| He has indicated, however, that he would resign his cabinet post if charged, while battling to clear his name. | He has indicated, however, that he would resign his cabinet post if charged, while battling to clear his name. |
| Patrick Wintour writes today that the Prime Minister has been drawing up plans for a cabinet reshuffle should Huhne step down. Before Starmer's announcement is made, the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, will be told, to give the civil service time to finalise contingency plans for a reshuffle, Patrick writes. Last night Cameron was rearranging a regional tour to be able to take swift decisions. | Patrick Wintour writes today that the Prime Minister has been drawing up plans for a cabinet reshuffle should Huhne step down. Before Starmer's announcement is made, the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, will be told, to give the civil service time to finalise contingency plans for a reshuffle, Patrick writes. Last night Cameron was rearranging a regional tour to be able to take swift decisions. |
| Sandra Laville has more on the background to the police investigation here. | Sandra Laville has more on the background to the police investigation here. |
| We'll be following developments and reaction here. | We'll be following developments and reaction here. |
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