Sunday Times ordered to hand Chris Huhne tape to police

Judge says tape on which energy secretary and ex-wife discuss speeding penalty points should be given to Essex police Police investigating allegations that the cabinet minister Chris Huhne persuaded his estranged wife to take speeding penalty points on his behalf have obtained a court order to take possession of a tape recording in which they apparently discuss the case. The Sunday Times reported that a judge at Chelmsford crown court had ordered that the tape be handed to Essex police. The paper said it was considering an appeal. The recording – disclosed by the Sunday Times in May – features a conversation between Huhne, the Liberal Democrat energy secretary, and his former partner, Vicky Pryce. Huhne urges her not to talk to journalists about the allegations, saying there was no evidence to support the story “unless you give it some legs by saying something”. Pryce, an economist, says: “It’s one of the things that worried me when I took them, when you made me take the points in the first instance.” The estranged couple were interviewed by detectives last month over the claims that he persuaded her to accept a penalty on his behalf in March 2003 so he could escape a driving ban. Images of Pryce’s driving licence have emerged indicating that she received points for an offence in the Essex area on the date in question. However, she is believed to have told police she was actually at an event in London and Huhne was behind the wheel. Huhne denies the allegations. Both the prime minister, David Cameron, and his Lib Dem deputy, Nick Clegg, have insisted there is no reason he should resign. Chris Huhne Liberal Democrats Police Sunday Times guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 26, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.