Chris Huhne faces second inquiry into 2010 general election expenses

Electoral commission launches case review into claims Huhne failed spending as Essex police conclude speeding inquiry Chris Huhne is facing a second potentially damaging inquiry after the elections watchdog announced it was reviewing all his expenses from the general election in response to allegations he broke the rules. The electoral commission has launched a case review into the energy secretary’s election expenses after receiving detailed claims that he failed to declare all his spending. The matter, which could be referred to the police, comes as Essex police prepares to conclude its inquiry into allegations that Huhne broke the law by asking his wife to take points he incurred for speeding. Last week, the electoral commission rejected a complaint due to insufficient evidence from two Liberal Democrat councillors in Huhne’s Eastleigh constituency that he made false declarations in his election expenses. But on Tuesday an official case review was launched after more detailed allegations were made by the Sunlight Centre for Open Democracy, which is run by Paul Staines and Harry Cole, who also writes for the rightwing Guido Fawkes blog. The allegations are that Huhne spent not only more than he declared but above the legal limit in election campaigns. The Sunlight centre is claiming: • Huhne failed to declare all spending on letters to constituents. • Items that were marked as national campaign spending did not subsequently show up on the national returns. • Huhne claimed £85 for a new website, which the Sunlight centre is alleging could not reflect its true cost. This week, police are expected to hand a dossier of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service relating to the allegations that Huhne asked his wife to take points for a speeding offence to avoid losing his licence. The electoral commission review, and potentially a second police inquiry, adds to the pressure on Huhne. The police can launch an inquiry into alleged expenses irregularities only up to 12 months after the event. That deadline expires on 10 June, and the commission will not report until 24 August. Cole has been advised that he can personally make a complaint to the police, which he said on Tuesday he was “actively considering”. Huhne said in a statement: “I have full confidence that my agent has declared my election expenses correctly and I look forward to this complaint being rejected as roundly as the last one.” An electoral commission spokesman said: “The commission received an allegation regarding Chris Huhne MP’s 2010 general election expenses on 25 May. Following an initial assessment of the information, we have now started a case review into the matter. The review will look to establish the facts of the case, firstly for the purposes of transparency and also for possible future guidance.” Chris Huhne MPs’ expenses Liberal Democrats House of Commons Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk

Posted by on May 31, 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.