Huhne and the future of the Coalition

Occasional Ostrich

When one reviews the spectrum of people Cameron "could do business with" Huhne is definitely one they would better off putting up with having "outside the tent, p*ssing in", rather than the opposite. Let him form a new party with Simon Hughes, if he still has a seat.

John Bracewell

It is too early to think of the next election. There are a lot of events to happen before then.

alexsandr

Oh FFS, what does his private life have to do with his abilities as a politician?

Old Slaughter

I can say little in favour of Chris Huhne's existence.

But those Tory voters in his consituancy would still be voting for David Cameron even if they were denied the right to vote for a representative they actually wanted.

Nothing to stop an independent right winder though.

So an interesting situation and one in which I think the Tories have a fine opportunity to show good grace and a commitment to the principles of the coalition.

It would also surely keep Chris Huhne firmly on side. Could you imagine Labour making such a gesture?

In saying this however, I suspect somebody could quite quickly convince me otherwise on a point of democratic principle.

Memoire

I can think of no better journal than the Spectator to comment on this "affair". Previous experinece counts a lot in dealing with these sad de-couplings.

Lindsay

Mr Forsyth

Your comments, if serious, are pathetic and treacherous. You seem to not have a Conservative bone in your body. Why should the Tories go through hoops in order to save this fellow and disenfranchise Eastleigh in the process.

He has lied to his wife as he lies to the British people about climate change and the capacity of windmills to power the economy.

A (rich) hypocrite as well as a liar--a perfect example of a modern Western "leader" of the kind you seem to prefer.

Oh well, apres moi le deluge.

Richard Dawson

James -- votes are not traded commodities voters in Eastleigh may have simply voted positively for Huhne and the Lib Dems rather than as an anti Tory Vote that doean't seem to ever cross your mind.It might also explain why the LDs have such a high retention factor at elections .

Arthur

Alexsandr, it matters because if a man will tell lies to his wife, he'll tell lies to you.

denis cooper

The eurofanatic Huhne is unfit to be in the Commons let alone in the government, and the tragedy is that UKIP idiotically helped him to win the Eastleigh seat in 2005.

Rhoda Klapp

I care little for his private life, or for his electoral prospects. If the Spectaor were a serious weakly organ, it would be more concerned that his energy policies equate to economic suicide, and yet he is in charge of energy.

toni

Barely weeks into a new administration and already financial sleaze and now sexual sleaze, but hey ho let's be 'understanding' about it, and manipulate the political process to protect the pair of them.
As the beloved Tory Punch and Judy would say "that's the way to do it"

Trevor Ranger

What does a politician's private life have to do with his public life? Well, if he doesn't keep a promise made to his wife, should we expect him to keep promises he makes to the electorate. The distinction between a man's private and public life is a false one - he's the same man.

chris as usual

Huhne is another one, along with Hughes and Cable, who are going to have to decide whether or not they show commitment to this coalition. Also, he needs to do an effective job in his ministry.

David

Oh FFS, what does his private life have to do with his abilities as a politician?

Nothing, unless said politician makes reference to his family as part of his election campaign. According to Guido his family values featured in his spring election material with quotes such as 'family matters to me so much, where would we be without them?'

TGF UKIP

The most disappointing aspect to this is that I'm still waiting for the first hot and sticky joke to hit my inbox.

JohnRS

Whatever way the coalition develops, Huhne should not be part of the leadership. After all, if his wife can't trust him why should the rest of us?

Peter From Maidstone

He's shown himself to be a liar and a cheat to the people who should be most important to him. Why should we think he will show any more self-discipline when it comes to serving us. His private life, when it shows his likely public behaviour, is very important.

Huxley

@alexsandr
There is no such thing as a private life in public life.
It also points out to a large % of the population who regard things like this as morally dubious,that he is a man who was happy to lie and cheat
Huhne knows that as does his new partner.
Her entire career is one of PR so she would be well aware of this.

Robert Eve

It would be very hard to forgive the Tories if they didn't put up a candidate against him next time.

I see a Boundary Commission fudge ahead in the Eastleigh region!

Vulture

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Dave moved heaven and earth to keep his pal Huhne in Parliament - and in office.

They are both members of the Liberal don't -do-as-I-do-do-as-I-say-club. Both millionaires. Both Eurofanatics. Both true believers in the AGW windmills of my mind con. Both extremely nasty pieces of work.

Huhne carried out a systematic cheating on his wife for over a year ( read the News of the Screws for all the sorry details) and now he will carry on cheating the rest of us.

And , to end on an ungallant note, this must be the only case in history of a
man ditching his plain wife for a mistress who looks like a horse's arse.

George Laird

Dear All

Chris Huhne has acted in a despicable manner cheating on his wife.

What is even more despicable is that allegedly senior Lib Dems knew about it and kept quiet.

I thought that Huhne, an able communicator was better than that, if you are in public office, people expect a higher standard, you get a clean sheet and it is your responsibilty what happens after that.

He should stand down as a minister because he makes a mockery of the title 'the Right honourable'.

I feel terribly sorry for his wife and kids.

If he thinks the grass is greener on the other side, he may be in for a big shock.

In order to justify acting like a rat, he has said:

"I am in a serious relationship with Carina and I am separating from my wife."

No fool like an old fool.

The 'new' politics does look remarkably similar to the old at Westminster.

Are there any more Lib Dems who would like to unburden their souls before being exposed?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow Univerity

David Booth

Yes yes I know it's a private matter when a marriage breaks down but I also know that a politician who cheats on their partner (and in the marital home, how tacky) will also cheat on the electorate.
Think of all the election meetings that Huhne presented himself as a happily married man only concerned with serving his electorate and now we see him for what he is, an out and out hypocrite.

paulg

This is lateral thinking at its very best James: thinking outside the box.

I think you should expand on the idea for your next column in the daily mail, but would you get some one to video it for youtube, when you run the idea past Paul Dacre. It should provoke an interesting response.

Word of advice though don't put it on papyrus or anything that can be rolled up, just incase he tries to "shove it where the sun does not shine". In a less than understanding response to your suggestion.

Commentator

I wonder whether this was leaked to the press a few days before the Budget by the Coalition's spin doctors/ his enemies in the Lib Dems so as to spike his guns on Tuesday?

ajs

When is George Laird going to graduate from Glasgow University? or is he in a virtual Cork University world? There must be a place for him as a SPAD somewhere; he has earned it well.

Ron Todd

The lib dems will be pleased that it is a woman that he is leaving his wife for.

nonny mouse

This affair will be forgotten about by the time of the next election. More important will be the quality of the job that he and the coalition do between now and then.

David Booth

I'm sure Chris Huhne has found true love with the lovely Carina but I wonder what the lovely Carina sees in the multi millionaire Chris Huhne, to paraphrase Mrs Merton (AKA Caroline Aherne.)

The sad fool Huhne's pathetic mid-life crises reminds me of the old French saying;

"A wealthy man who marries his mistress merely creates a vacant situation in his life"

So the lovely Carina needs to keep her wits about her and both eyes on Huhne the hypocrite.

And in answer to people who say what has a person's private life got to do with his politics, well politics is about trust and if a man has consistently lied to his family he would just as easily lie to the electorate.

Naomi Muse

As the bed shuffle is now in the open, perhaps Mr Huhne can pay attention to all the money currently being wasted in compensating wind turbine operators in turning their machines off when the wind blows, because the National Grid would be overloaded. Without storage facilities, wind powered onshore turbines are very costly white elephants.

Mr Huhne would do well to ensure a level playing field in energy, by taking away subsidies for all forms of energy production. There would be such a fall in those planning applications for wind turbines.

Fergus Pickering

Good heavens, some of you should really get out more. Hands up everyone who has never lied to his wife. Oh really! Hands up everybody who has never lied at all. That'll be just the Pope then. As it happens, I think Huhne is a right see-you-in-tea, but not because of his marital troubles.

Victor Southern

Vulture - you have managed to parody yourself on this thread where you have turned into a pantomime dame. Cameron is a Eurofanatic? Try taking some water with whatever you are drinking.

It is hard to see any point of comparison at all between Cameron and Huhne except in your fevered imagination. Of course, they are both men so I retract that last remark.

Cuffleyburgers

Huhne certainly seems to have behaved quite disgracefully.

Plus his new girlfriend would hardly launch a thousand ships...

On a serious note, the thing is I suppose there is no elegant way to leave your wife and shack up with someone else; however there must be a better way than this. Ambitious career politicians are staggeringly ego-centric and he probably thinks he has been entirely reasonable.

That is not a Huhne thing - it's a politician thing and a timely reminder that they are the last people who should be put in charge of ANYTHING.

George Laird

Dear ajs @ June 20th, 2010 6:17pm

“When is George Laird going to graduate from Glasgow University? or is he in a virtual Cork University world? There must be a place for him as a SPAD somewhere; he has earned it well”.

Thank you for your vote of confidence that I would make a good SPAD, I like digging into things.

However, I don’t aspire to be anything.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University