David Cameron 'confident' in Chris Huhne but Labour call for full inquiry

David Cameron has said he has confidence in beleaguered Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, who is fighting claims he persuaded his ex-wife to accept speeding penalty points on his behalf.

Challenged that he seemed to be showing a lack of support for the Liberal Democrat minister, the Prime Minister said: "Not at all. Everyone in my Cabinet has my confidence, otherwise they wouldn't be in my Cabinet.

"With the case of Chris Huhne, obviously he's denied these allegations, the police are investigating, and that I think is the right way to handle this."

His comments yesterday came after Labour urged Mr Cameron to set up a Whitehall inquiry to establish the truth of the claims surrounding the eight-year-old speeding offence.

Mr Huhne is due to be interviewed this week by Essex Police over the allegations, which first surfaced two weeks ago when his ex-wife, Vicky Pryce, revealed he had asked someone else to take the penalty points. It was later reported that she was the person concerned.

Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce divorced earlier this year after he left her for another woman.

A Sunday newspaper published details at the weekend of Ms Pryce's driving licence showing she received three points for an offence on the date concerned, in March, 2003.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell said Mr Cameron had to resolve the issue.

She said: "He should be getting a proper investigation independently - Cabinet Office or wherever - to establish what the facts were."