Chris Huhne secures much-needed personal boost over emissions

The UK government will sign up to an "ambitious" target which will commit the country to a 50 per cent cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2025, beleaguered Energy Secretary Chris Huhne told the Commons yesterday.

The figure is higher than the 42 per cent target set by the Scottish Government for 2020.

Mr Huhne said he was adopting the recommendation made by the committee on climate change for the fourth "carbon budget", which governs emissions limits between 2023-27. He added the decision would be reviewed in 2014.

The announcement is a victory for Mr Huhne after a rift in Cabinet in which some ministers opposed the proposals on the grounds they could damage growth.

It has come at a good time for the Liberal Democrat MP, who is facing allegations he asked his estranged wife to accept speeding penalty points on his behalf in 2003. It was claimed yesterday that she may have fled the country because she "feels harassed" by the media.

At the time, Mr Huhne, who was then an MEP, was facing the prospect of a driving ban if he clocked up any more points.