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| Nick Clegg 'shocked and saddened' by Chris Huhne's guilty plea | Nick Clegg 'shocked and saddened' by Chris Huhne's guilty plea |
| (4 months later) | |
| Nick Clegg has said he is "shocked and saddened" by the decision of the former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Chris Huhne to plead guilty to perverting the course of justice by asking his wife to take his penalty points on her driving licence 10 years ago. | Nick Clegg has said he is "shocked and saddened" by the decision of the former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Chris Huhne to plead guilty to perverting the course of justice by asking his wife to take his penalty points on her driving licence 10 years ago. |
| Huhne said he would be standing down as an MP, and he also expects to be expelled from the Liberal Democrats for perverting the course of justice. He has also resigned as a privy counsellor. He does not plan to pursue his career in politics and faces very heavy legal fees and a possible lengthy jail sentence. | Huhne said he would be standing down as an MP, and he also expects to be expelled from the Liberal Democrats for perverting the course of justice. He has also resigned as a privy counsellor. He does not plan to pursue his career in politics and faces very heavy legal fees and a possible lengthy jail sentence. |
| In a series of difficult conversations, he told friends and family, as well as Clegg, of his decision to plead guilty on Sunday. There was a brief discussion on whether he could stay in the seat until the election to prevent a difficult byelection, but Huhne rejected this option, believing he has to break with politics entirely and anyway would be hounded from the seat by public opinion. | In a series of difficult conversations, he told friends and family, as well as Clegg, of his decision to plead guilty on Sunday. There was a brief discussion on whether he could stay in the seat until the election to prevent a difficult byelection, but Huhne rejected this option, believing he has to break with politics entirely and anyway would be hounded from the seat by public opinion. |
| Although Clegg and Huhne have been political rivals, the Lib Dem leader has also been his friend and will take no personal pleasure in Huhne's downfall, or the family breakup that spiralled out of control into a tragedy. | Although Clegg and Huhne have been political rivals, the Lib Dem leader has also been his friend and will take no personal pleasure in Huhne's downfall, or the family breakup that spiralled out of control into a tragedy. |
| Clegg said the former energy secretary had taken the "right decision" to step down from parliament in light of the admission. "This is obviously an extremely serious matter and it's essential that the legal process is now allowed to run its course," Clegg told reporters. | Clegg said the former energy secretary had taken the "right decision" to step down from parliament in light of the admission. "This is obviously an extremely serious matter and it's essential that the legal process is now allowed to run its course," Clegg told reporters. |
| Huhne's decision to resign and plead guilty followed the collapse of his efforts to have the case dismissed for abuse of process. His sudden volte places pressure on the Liberal Democrats to hold Huhne's highly marginal Eastleigh seat. But the contest equally throws down the challenge for the Tories to show they can pick up Liberal Democrat held seats. | Huhne's decision to resign and plead guilty followed the collapse of his efforts to have the case dismissed for abuse of process. His sudden volte places pressure on the Liberal Democrats to hold Huhne's highly marginal Eastleigh seat. But the contest equally throws down the challenge for the Tories to show they can pick up Liberal Democrat held seats. |
| It will be the first serious head-to-head byelection clash between the two coalition parties. The parliament has been notable for the number of by-elections in Labour held seats. | It will be the first serious head-to-head byelection clash between the two coalition parties. The parliament has been notable for the number of by-elections in Labour held seats. |
| Labour was busy downplaying its chances, but saying it still needs to show it can make progress in the south, partly by winning over disillusioned Liberal Democrat voters. | Labour was busy downplaying its chances, but saying it still needs to show it can make progress in the south, partly by winning over disillusioned Liberal Democrat voters. |
| Nigel Farage, the leader of Ukip, has said he will decide in the next 48 hours whether to stand in the byelection, something he had suggested in the past. He will need to assess the seriousness of his chances of winning the seat, or whether he should focus on the European elections next year. | Nigel Farage, the leader of Ukip, has said he will decide in the next 48 hours whether to stand in the byelection, something he had suggested in the past. He will need to assess the seriousness of his chances of winning the seat, or whether he should focus on the European elections next year. |
| The Conservatives have already campaigned for the seat, and have little affection for Huhne, whom they disliked politically and personally. They will throw all their big guns at the seat and, given the circumstances, should expect to win. | The Conservatives have already campaigned for the seat, and have little affection for Huhne, whom they disliked politically and personally. They will throw all their big guns at the seat and, given the circumstances, should expect to win. |
| But Huhne had helped turn the town of Eastleigh into a Liberal Democrat stronghold increasing his majority in 2010 and helping the party strengthen his grip on the council. The Liberal Democrats now hold 40 seats and the Conservatives just four. | But Huhne had helped turn the town of Eastleigh into a Liberal Democrat stronghold increasing his majority in 2010 and helping the party strengthen his grip on the council. The Liberal Democrats now hold 40 seats and the Conservatives just four. |
| Huhne increased the Lib Dems' majority to 3,864 in 2010, securing 24,966 compared with the Conservatives' 21,102, Labour's 5,153 and Ukip's 1,933. The difficulty for the Liberal Democrats is that Huhne's centre-left politics and profile were effective in squeezing the local Labour vote, and his replacement will need to do the same. | Huhne increased the Lib Dems' majority to 3,864 in 2010, securing 24,966 compared with the Conservatives' 21,102, Labour's 5,153 and Ukip's 1,933. The difficulty for the Liberal Democrats is that Huhne's centre-left politics and profile were effective in squeezing the local Labour vote, and his replacement will need to do the same. |
| Labour should not write off its chances. In 1997 the Labour vote was 14,883, or 26.8%. At the time of the 1994 byelection, Labour came second behind the Liberal Democrats, taking 15,234 votes or 27.6%. | Labour should not write off its chances. In 1997 the Labour vote was 14,883, or 26.8%. At the time of the 1994 byelection, Labour came second behind the Liberal Democrats, taking 15,234 votes or 27.6%. |
| That Labour vote has gradually declined and shifted to Liberal Democrats in recent years, and had shrunk to 9.6% in 2010. But there is no reason why the Liberal Democrat vote can grow. | That Labour vote has gradually declined and shifted to Liberal Democrats in recent years, and had shrunk to 9.6% in 2010. But there is no reason why the Liberal Democrat vote can grow. |
| It is likely that the Liberal Democrats will select a local candidate, but morale among local Liberal Democrats is low because of the Huhne resignation, and his admission he had been lying to save his job. Voters often leave parties that force byelections on them. | It is likely that the Liberal Democrats will select a local candidate, but morale among local Liberal Democrats is low because of the Huhne resignation, and his admission he had been lying to save his job. Voters often leave parties that force byelections on them. |
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