Former minister denies motor offences

Geoffrey Robinson, the former Treasury Minister denied three motoring offences when he appeared in court yesterday.

Magistrates in Walsall, West Midlands, adjojurned the case against the ex-Paymaster General after he entered not guilty pleas to failing to provide a breath specimen, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence last December.

The 64-year-old Labour MP for Coventry North West – who lives in Godalming, Surrey – was remanded on unconditional bail until 10 April for a pre-trial review which he would not be required to attend.

Ruth Childs, for the prosecution, who said the matter would normally be put off for about six weeks, requested more time for the case to "tie up" with an ongoing police investigation into an unknown substance found in a police van where Robinson was taken immediately following his arrest.

The charges were brought by police after they stopped the Jaguar that Robinson was driving on the A454 Black Country route on 14 December.

Inside Court 2, which was packed with reporters, Robinson, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, stood in front of the clerk's bench.

He spoke only to confirm his name, address, and age, and to deny each of the three charges.

Robinson left the hearing with his solicitor, Mark Haslam, and climbed into a dark green Jaguar XJ8 outside the precinct before being driven away.

The ex-minister gave a brief smile as he left the court, saying only: "Thank you, I have got nothing to say."

Robinson is due to answer bail at Walsall Police Station on 4 April for a separate matter – in relation to the substance which was seized at the time of his arrest. The unknown substance has been sent away for analysis by police experts.