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| Should Chris Huhne be able to resume his life in politics? | Should Chris Huhne be able to resume his life in politics? |
| (4 months later) | |
| Sir Edward Garnier QC, Conservative MP for Harborough and solicitor general 2010-12 | Sir Edward Garnier QC, Conservative MP for Harborough and solicitor general 2010-12 |
| In Chris Huhne's case, his career in the House of Commons is finished. That is not to say that his ability to contribute to politics outside Parliament (or in other areas) is over. There is plenty that he can do – but he can't do it from the Commons. And this is not to say that an MP who is convicted of a criminal offence will under all circumstances be unable to return to the Commons. | In Chris Huhne's case, his career in the House of Commons is finished. That is not to say that his ability to contribute to politics outside Parliament (or in other areas) is over. There is plenty that he can do – but he can't do it from the Commons. And this is not to say that an MP who is convicted of a criminal offence will under all circumstances be unable to return to the Commons. |
| Technically if an MP is sentenced to less than 12 months there is no compulsion to resign – it's only when the sentence is indefinite or for more than one year that the seat becomes vacant – but in reality the constituency party, and local and national public opinion, will make it impossible for them to stay. It's the trust thing. There could be circumstances where the criminal offence did not involve persistent lying, financial dishonesty or a gross breach of trust. Causing death by careless driving is perhaps an example of a serious offence with terrible if different consequences for the victim and defendant that, although it led to a prison sentence, might not make a return to the Commons impossible. | Technically if an MP is sentenced to less than 12 months there is no compulsion to resign – it's only when the sentence is indefinite or for more than one year that the seat becomes vacant – but in reality the constituency party, and local and national public opinion, will make it impossible for them to stay. It's the trust thing. There could be circumstances where the criminal offence did not involve persistent lying, financial dishonesty or a gross breach of trust. Causing death by careless driving is perhaps an example of a serious offence with terrible if different consequences for the victim and defendant that, although it led to a prison sentence, might not make a return to the Commons impossible. |
| Chris Huhne is a highly talented man. From now on he must deploy those talents outside Parliament. | Chris Huhne is a highly talented man. From now on he must deploy those talents outside Parliament. |
| Yvonne Roberts, chief leader writer of the Observer | Yvonne Roberts, chief leader writer of the Observer |
| It seems a touch unfair that Chris Huhne's punishment should continue beyond his time in jail. Supposing, in an ideal world, Huhne did find a constituency willing to give him a second chance, would this not be a milestone for rehabilitation? Would it not mean he would redouble his efforts, in the spotlight, to stay on the right side of the law? In addition, one of the main failings of Westminster is its lack of diversity, experience and humility. An ex-offender who, Icarus-like, joins his former colleagues with distinctly singed wings, might bring a much needed different perspective to proceedings in the House. And, given Huhne's apparent vanity, an added selling point would be his probable determination to make the most of his USP – his time inside. | It seems a touch unfair that Chris Huhne's punishment should continue beyond his time in jail. Supposing, in an ideal world, Huhne did find a constituency willing to give him a second chance, would this not be a milestone for rehabilitation? Would it not mean he would redouble his efforts, in the spotlight, to stay on the right side of the law? In addition, one of the main failings of Westminster is its lack of diversity, experience and humility. An ex-offender who, Icarus-like, joins his former colleagues with distinctly singed wings, might bring a much needed different perspective to proceedings in the House. And, given Huhne's apparent vanity, an added selling point would be his probable determination to make the most of his USP – his time inside. |
| EG: The court has imposed the sentence but that does not mean that the law-abiding public should pretend that nothing has happened once the sentence is completed. I may forgive the burglar; I may want to see him learn to get off drugs, to learn to read, to be rehabilitated and get a job but that does not mean I must have him to stay in my house. Fairness is an easy word to use but what's fair about having a persistent, convicted liar as your MP? One can feel personally sorry for Chris Huhne but no one forced him to lie and to continue lying and in doing so cause untold misery to his family and vast expense to the taxpayer in resisting what he must have known was the inevitable. | EG: The court has imposed the sentence but that does not mean that the law-abiding public should pretend that nothing has happened once the sentence is completed. I may forgive the burglar; I may want to see him learn to get off drugs, to learn to read, to be rehabilitated and get a job but that does not mean I must have him to stay in my house. Fairness is an easy word to use but what's fair about having a persistent, convicted liar as your MP? One can feel personally sorry for Chris Huhne but no one forced him to lie and to continue lying and in doing so cause untold misery to his family and vast expense to the taxpayer in resisting what he must have known was the inevitable. |
| I am not saying he should be prevented by law from standing for election but common sense tells me that the Liberal Democrats, despite their many eccentricities, are unlikely to want him as their public face at a general election attracting attention to his past misdeeds. It would simply confirm their lack of judgment in so many ways. But assuming they lost their political radar he would be unable to talk about anything but his crime. If he wants to make an effort to stay on the right side of the law, why not do so out of the spotlight, doing good and doing it quietly? | I am not saying he should be prevented by law from standing for election but common sense tells me that the Liberal Democrats, despite their many eccentricities, are unlikely to want him as their public face at a general election attracting attention to his past misdeeds. It would simply confirm their lack of judgment in so many ways. But assuming they lost their political radar he would be unable to talk about anything but his crime. If he wants to make an effort to stay on the right side of the law, why not do so out of the spotlight, doing good and doing it quietly? |
| Parliament may lack diversity in terms of gender balance but I am not sure we need jailbirds to add a new dimension to those who make our laws. If his USP is his time inside, let him use it to help other, less fortunate ex-offenders. My friend Jonathan Aitken had a similar fall from the front rank of politics and government and now does nothing but good – but not in Parliament. Life moves on; Mr Huhne should look forward, not back to where his ambitions became warped and criminalised, and that's what I suspect he wants to do. | Parliament may lack diversity in terms of gender balance but I am not sure we need jailbirds to add a new dimension to those who make our laws. If his USP is his time inside, let him use it to help other, less fortunate ex-offenders. My friend Jonathan Aitken had a similar fall from the front rank of politics and government and now does nothing but good – but not in Parliament. Life moves on; Mr Huhne should look forward, not back to where his ambitions became warped and criminalised, and that's what I suspect he wants to do. |
| YR: I don't feel at all sorry for Chris Huhne who, as you say, lied, behaved immaturely, cost us taxpayers dearly both in the pursuit of justice and at Her Majesty's Pleasure, and generally behaved as an individual who has yet to earn the trust he has dissipated. But, as poll after poll tells us, sadly that does not place him that far apart from some of his former colleagues. At least Huhne's flaws are no longer camouflaged. Of course, there are many MPs who, like you, have served the electorate diligently and honourably, and that needs greater recognition and respect – but it is undeniable that there is an escalating disconnect that risks making parliamentary democracy a minority interest. | YR: I don't feel at all sorry for Chris Huhne who, as you say, lied, behaved immaturely, cost us taxpayers dearly both in the pursuit of justice and at Her Majesty's Pleasure, and generally behaved as an individual who has yet to earn the trust he has dissipated. But, as poll after poll tells us, sadly that does not place him that far apart from some of his former colleagues. At least Huhne's flaws are no longer camouflaged. Of course, there are many MPs who, like you, have served the electorate diligently and honourably, and that needs greater recognition and respect – but it is undeniable that there is an escalating disconnect that risks making parliamentary democracy a minority interest. |
| Of course, the media would pursue Huhne as the ex-offender but only for a time. What you seem to be advocating is what might be called the Profumo penalty. A fall from grace followed by 30 years of Establishment exile. Instead, what the House lacks, on right and left, is someone who is robust and realistic about the need to radically change the penal system because it costs too much and achieves too little – a reoffending rate of 45% for women. Republicans in the US have woken up to the fact – Huhne could utilise what parliamentary skills he has to advocate for systemic change. Turning the lives of individuals around, he can leave for his spare time. | Of course, the media would pursue Huhne as the ex-offender but only for a time. What you seem to be advocating is what might be called the Profumo penalty. A fall from grace followed by 30 years of Establishment exile. Instead, what the House lacks, on right and left, is someone who is robust and realistic about the need to radically change the penal system because it costs too much and achieves too little – a reoffending rate of 45% for women. Republicans in the US have woken up to the fact – Huhne could utilise what parliamentary skills he has to advocate for systemic change. Turning the lives of individuals around, he can leave for his spare time. |
| EG: The House of Commons is not full of saints but nor is it a den of thieves. Transparency is like carbolic soap. | EG: The House of Commons is not full of saints but nor is it a den of thieves. Transparency is like carbolic soap. |
| You clearly have not had the opportunity to read my paper, written in 2007 when I was shadow prisons minister, called Prisons With a Purpose. It called for a rehabilitation revolution and measures to cut down the economically wasteful and immoral reoffending rates. Far too many adult and teenage prisoners leave custody and then commit further crimes because they are illiterate, drug addicts or mentally ill when they go inside, and illiterate, drug addicts or mentally ill when they come out. | You clearly have not had the opportunity to read my paper, written in 2007 when I was shadow prisons minister, called Prisons With a Purpose. It called for a rehabilitation revolution and measures to cut down the economically wasteful and immoral reoffending rates. Far too many adult and teenage prisoners leave custody and then commit further crimes because they are illiterate, drug addicts or mentally ill when they go inside, and illiterate, drug addicts or mentally ill when they come out. |
| Chris Huhne is one of the exceptions to this stereotype and is intellectually and physically robust enough not to be damaged by his experiences as a prisoner. Most short-term prisoners get no help on release and fall back into the hopeless downward spiral of crime and drug abuse. I made the same points again in the Queen's Speech debate on 9 May. | Chris Huhne is one of the exceptions to this stereotype and is intellectually and physically robust enough not to be damaged by his experiences as a prisoner. Most short-term prisoners get no help on release and fall back into the hopeless downward spiral of crime and drug abuse. I made the same points again in the Queen's Speech debate on 9 May. |
| This is about to change. Chris Huhne need not be a new Profumo but a new Huhne. | This is about to change. Chris Huhne need not be a new Profumo but a new Huhne. |
| YR: Indeed, I have read your paper and applaud much of it. However, I wish I had your faith that the current system is going to change. I have been involved with the charity Women in Prison, of which I am a trustee, for almost 30 years and have witnessed a repeated pattern of timid steps forward (brave Corston proposals) followed by a lunge back as politicians appeal to some of the electorate's more primitive instincts. The four pillars to which you refer in Prisons With a Purpose – punishment, rehabilitation, work for offenders and reparation – are essential. But many magistrates, too, need re-education; alternatives to prison matter. Yet, as you will know, women with children are still being locked up for weeks for trivial offences. | YR: Indeed, I have read your paper and applaud much of it. However, I wish I had your faith that the current system is going to change. I have been involved with the charity Women in Prison, of which I am a trustee, for almost 30 years and have witnessed a repeated pattern of timid steps forward (brave Corston proposals) followed by a lunge back as politicians appeal to some of the electorate's more primitive instincts. The four pillars to which you refer in Prisons With a Purpose – punishment, rehabilitation, work for offenders and reparation – are essential. But many magistrates, too, need re-education; alternatives to prison matter. Yet, as you will know, women with children are still being locked up for weeks for trivial offences. |
| If you have time, do look at the work that Women in Prison does for those coming out of prison, which will be hampered by the coalition's intent on payment by results, contracts the large private companies are hoovering up, although they have less experience of how much sustained support many former offenders require. At the same time, projects to prevent offending are being drastically cut. Where is the economic sense in that? Or the justice? | If you have time, do look at the work that Women in Prison does for those coming out of prison, which will be hampered by the coalition's intent on payment by results, contracts the large private companies are hoovering up, although they have less experience of how much sustained support many former offenders require. At the same time, projects to prevent offending are being drastically cut. Where is the economic sense in that? Or the justice? |
| Huhne, remodelled or otherwise, has had a (brief) personal experience that could be a powerful political motivator. Let's wait and watch. | Huhne, remodelled or otherwise, has had a (brief) personal experience that could be a powerful political motivator. Let's wait and watch. |
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