Police hand Chris Huhne 'speeding file' to prosecutors

(FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA)

Detectives investigating allegations Chris Huhne made his ex-wife take speeding points for him have handed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The Energy Secretary has been accused of attempting to hold on to his driving licence by persuading his former wife, Vicky Pryce, to say she was behind the wheel at the time of the offence in 2003. He strongly denies the allegations.

Essex Police have been examining the newspaper claims for three months. A spokesman for the force confirmed yesterday that a file detailing its conclusions was passed to the CPS yesterday. The move ensures that a cloud will hang over the Liberal Democrat minister during the summer break.

Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce were reinterviewed last week after the police were granted a court order to obtain an audio recording in which the couple allegedly discuss the episode.

The CPS will have to consider whether to proceed with charges after examining the file, which relates to Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce. A spokeswoman said: "We don't know how long it's going to take."

The move came as Mr Huhne was cleared of wrongdoing over his general election expenses after an investigation by the Electoral Commission. It acted on complaints that he had under-reported the amount spent on his campaign last year in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The Commission said it was taking no action after finding only minor discrepancies.

It found that the cost of his campaign website was £45.15, rather than the £35 reported, but noted that this still left him well within spending limits. It also concluded that the decision to allocate spending totalling around £5,400 to the national Liberal Democrat campaign was "reasonable and in line with Electoral Commission guidance".