Police pass Chris Huhne's 'speeding' file over to prosecution service

POLICE have passed a file on Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to the Crown Prosecution Service concerning allegations that he asked someone else to take penalty points for speeding.

Mr Huhne's former wife, Vicky Pryce, claimed in an interview in May the Eastleigh MP had tried to pass on his points to her to avoid losing his driving licence.

Mr Huhne ended their 26-year marriage last year after confirming he had been having a long-term affair.

The speeding offence is alleged to have taken place in 2003 when the then MEP was driving home from Stansted Airport after flying back from the European Parliament. Mr Huhne has vigorously denied asking anyone else to take the points.

A spokesman for Essex Police said yesterday: "Essex Police can confirm that a file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service today."

The CPS must now decide whether any charges should be brought against Mr Huhne.

The CPS said the file - which relates to both Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce - would be assessed by a lawyer in its Special Crime and Counter-Terrorism Division, who will decide whether charges should be brought.

"We will look at it and then we will make a decision on whether anyone should be charged with anything," said a spokeswoman.

"We don't know how long it is going to take. Depending on what is in the file, we may ask the police for more information or seek advice from counsel."

News that the file had been passed to police came as Mr Huhne was cleared of wrongdoing over his election expenses following an investigation by the Electoral Commission.

The investigation was prompted by complaints that Mr Huhne had under-reported the amount spent on his campaign. But the commission yesterday said it was taking no action, after finding only minor discrepancies in his election expense returns.

The commission found that the cost of his campaign website was 45.15, rather than the 35 reported, but noted it was well within spending limits.

And it found that the decision to allocate 5,400 to the national Liberal Democrat campaign, rather than to Mr Huhne's personal campaign for the seat, was "reasonable and in line with Electoral Commission guidance".