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Huhne quits as UK Energy Secretary
 Britain's Chris Huhne has resigned as Secretary of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change over an allegation of perverting the course of justice.
The Energy Secretary said today he had quit after being informed he faces a charge of perverting the course of justice over claims that his wife accepted driving penalty points on his behalf for a speeding offence.
In a brief statement the Energy Secretary said he was “innocent” and would fight the allegation of perverting the course of justice through the courts.
In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron explaining his reasons for going, Chris Huhne said: “It is with much regret” that he had decided to leave office, saying he intended to mount “a robust defence to these charges brought against me,” but he went on to say the issue would be a distraction from his official duties and therefore felt it best to leave the government.
“I intend to mount a robust defence against the charges brought against me, and I have concluded that it would be distracting both to that effort and to my official duties if I were to continue in office,” Mr Huhne told the Prime Minister in an exchange of letters.
The accusation dates back to 2003 over a speeding offence before Mr Huhne was even an MP, but when he was member of the European Parliament.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service decided to act after an investigation into the allegation last year by Essex Police. Mr Huhne's former wife is also to be charged with perverting the course of justice, the CPS has indicated.
Reports suggests that another UK Liberal Democrat MP, Ed Davey could replace Mr Huhne.
Greenpeace reacted swiftly saying: “Chris Huhne will be a tough act to follow, his achievements in getting the Green Bank and stricter legally binding carbon targets are a physical legacy of what he was able to accomplish. He has been a vocal advocate for the green agenda in a government whose green credentials are looking more than a little tarnished.”
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