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After Dramatic Reversal, Former British Minister Faces Possible Jail Term
Former British Minister Pleads Guilty to Charge He Long Denied
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — A former British government minister dramatically reversed his plea in a high-profile court case on Monday concerning accusations that he persuaded his former wife to take responsibility for a speeding offense he had committed, pleading guilty to a charge of obstructing justice that carries a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
LONDON — A former British government minister faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment after he reversed his longstanding denials on Monday and accepted responsibility for persuading his former wife to take the blame for a speeding offense he had committed a decade ago.
Chris Huhne, the former energy minister and a onetime contender to lead the junior Liberal Democrat coalition partner, had steadfastly denied a charge that, in 2003, he persuaded his former wife, Vicky Pryce, to say she had been at the wheel of a car he had been driving when it was caught in a highway speeding trap between Stansted Airport and London. He could have been banned from driving if he admitted the offense.
Chris Huhne, 58, a former energy minister and a onetime contender to lead the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the coalition government, also announced that he was leaving Parliament, tacitly acknowledging the end of what had once been a high-flying career. “Having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign,” he said.
Mr. Huhne’s reversal at Southwark Crown Court reverberated through British politics, even though he had already stepped down from ministerial office in February 2012.
Until now, he had steadfastly denied that, in 2003, he persuaded his former wife, Vicky Pryce, to say she had been at the wheel when their car was caught in a highway speed trap between Stansted Airport and London. Had he admitted the offense at the time, he could have been banned from driving. The case emerged in 2011, after the marriage broke up and Ms. Pryce pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice in the episode, saying she had been coerced.
Outside the courtroom, Mr. Huhne also announced on Monday that he was quitting Parliament, tacitly acknowledging that the charges spelled the decline of a political career once depicted as high-flying within the Liberal Democrats. Mr. Huhne lost a party leadership battle to Nick Clegg in 2007.
Mr. Huhne stepped down from ministerial office in February 2012, but his reversal on Monday at Southwark Crown Court reverberated through British politics. As recently as a week ago, Mr. Huhne had denied the charge.
“Having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign” from the legislature, Mr. Huhne said on Monday.
On Monday, Judge Nigel Sweeney told Mr. Huhne that, while he was being released on unconditional bail until sentencing, “you should have no illusions whatsoever as to the sort of sentence that you are likely to receive.”
As recently as a week ago, Mr. Huhne, 58, denied a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Before the hearing on Monday, the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, had called Mr. Huhne a “big beast” of British politics and had said he looked forward to welcoming him back to the “top table” of British politics if he cleared his name. Mr. Huhne lost the party leadership battle to Mr. Clegg in 2007.
Before Monday’s hearing, the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr. Clegg, had called Mr. Huhne a “big beast” of British politics and said he looked forward to welcoming him back to the “top table” of British politics if he cleared his name.
Mr. Clegg said on Monday that he was “shocked and saddened” by Mr. Huhne’s reversal, but that he believed Mr. Huhne had “taken the right decision in resigning.”
The accusations relating to the speeding episode emerged in 2011 after Mr. Huhne’s marriage broke up over accusations of an extramarital relationship with a public relations adviser. Citing marital coercion, Ms. Pryce, his former wife, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice.
“This is obviously an extremely serious matter,” Mr. Clegg said, “and it’s essential that the legal process is now allowed to run its course.”
Prime Minister David Cameron’s office declined to comment on the development, saying it was a “matter for Mr. Huhne.”
Prime Minister David Cameron’s office declined to comment, saying it was a “matter for Mr. Huhne.”
But the judge, Nigel Sweeney, told Mr. Huhne on Monday that, while he was being released on unconditional bail until sentencing, “you should have no illusions whatsoever as to the sort of sentence that you are likely to receive.”
Mr. Clegg said on Monday that he was “shocked and saddened” by Mr. Huhne’s reversal. However, he told reporters, “This is obviously an extremely serious matter, and it’s essential that the legal process is now allowed to run its course.”
“I am shocked and saddened by what has happened, but I believe that Chris Huhne has taken the right decision in resigning.”
