Huhne Under Pressure Over Speeding Claims - Sky News

6:52am UK, Sunday May 22, 2011

Pressure is mounting on Energy Secretary Chris Huhne after Sunday newspapers have published more allegations surrounding a speeding ticket controversy.

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According to the Sunday Times, Liberal Democrat Mr Huhne has conceded he may have been driving his car on the day it was caught by a speed camera.

Essex Police have been looking into allegations that in 2003 he persuaded his then wife, Vicky Pryce, to accept speeding penalty points on his behalf so he could escape a driving ban - a charge he has previously denied.

The newspaper said it had obtained what it said was the driving licence of estranged wife Ms Pryce.

It is said to contain an endorsement for speeding on the same day the Energy Secretary is alleged to have been caught by a speed camera on the M11 motorway.

Mr Huhne is expected to tell police he "cannot be sure" if he was - or wasn't - driving that day after returning home from Stansted airport.

In 2003, as a member of the European Parliament, Mr Huhne routinely caught flights from Strasbourg to the airport in Essex.

The Energy Secretary has promoted bicycle riding

Read more about the formal investigation by Essex police.

Ryanair has been asked to provide their passenger records as lists would confirm whether or not Mr Huhne was in Essex at the time.

The Sunday Telegraph also claims Ms Pryce is expected to tell police that another woman also took points for Mr Huhne on her licence.

Meanwhile, Mr Huhne has been under fire following the disclosure that he faces a complaint about his general election expenses.

Two former Liberal Democrat councillors in his Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire have submitted a formal complaint to the official elections watchdog alleging he made a "false declaration" of his expenses.

The allegation is based on a recording of a local party meeting where treasurer Anne Winstanley is heard saying that the elections "have cost more than we declared".

Mr Huhne strongly denied the charge, insisting his expenses were in order.