Huhne falls victim to another secret microphone
Peter Hoskin 9:55am
The vultures appear to be circling closer and closer to Chris Huhne — does he have
enough strength to shoo them away? After all, he was already diminished by last weekend's claims about his
delinquent motoring practices. Today, he is diminished further still. Both the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times (£) have published extracts from a taped conversation between the Energy Secretary and an unnamed
someone who is alleged to have taken the fall for his speeding tickets. "There is no evidence for this story," says Huhne in one extract, "unless you give it some legs by saying
something." Another crucial exchange appears to be this one:
Questions abound, not least how this conversation was taped, thereby confirming Huhne's suspicion that, "I really don't think it is sensible to have these sorts of conversations on the phone." But surely it is unquestionable that the Energy Minister will now have to respond to these allegations personally. If he doesn't, then his political career — let alone his crumbling designs upon the Lib Dem leadership — may be over by default. And such timing too; just when the polls are stacked heavily against Nick Clegg, and some Lib Dems are turning mutinous after their humiliation in the recent elections."When [Huhne] briefly comments: 'There's no question of it coming out, because it's simply not true, that's it,' the other person is believed to react with shock, saying: 'I'm sorry, what? Why are you suddenly saying that?'"
Meanwhile, as we're talking scandal, there's the possibility that the IMF might lose its boss and France a presidential candidate. Apply all the usual standards about innocence, proof and guilt, of course, but Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been implicated in this.
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Alan Douglas
May 15th, 2011 10:13am Report this commentI disagree with your headline "Huhne falls victim to another secret microphone."
No, he falls victim to his actual morals and ethics v. what he publicly proclaims, to his lust for power v. the immense smallness of his true vision.
Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke ....
Alan Douglas
wrinkled weasel
May 15th, 2011 10:29am Report this commentThe press operates some firm controls on stories like this. It is not that stories are necessarily suppressed, but timing is everything. Remember how the Mark Oaten story came out after he ran for leadership of the Lib Dems?
Similarly there seems to be a gentlemen's agreement over David Laws. Yes, the story has had plenty of exposure but the absence of real criticism is deafening. Crucially, the six breaches have not been reported in detail anywhere. These, to me are the crux of the Laws story because they can de-construct his defense. People want Laws, ergo, they have gone soft on reporting.
And now to Huhne. He is not liked is he? After his fairly stinky outbursts about the Conservatives I dare say a few editors decided over lunch that his time was up.
This story has been around for sometime, but it is only now that the press have not only taken it up, but upped the ante with a revealing taped conversation.
The next logical step is a police investigation and if that happens Huhne's aspirations will amount to having the top bunk in Wandsworth.
As for his political career, it is over. Your collegues in Fleet Street have made sure of that.
Tiberius
May 15th, 2011 10:32am Report this commentHuman beings and their frailties, eh?
But at least Peter Oborne is back in the saddle today.
Cynic
May 15th, 2011 10:43am Report this commentSomebody remind me - has he lasted long enough to qualify for that ministerial pension yet?
Mark Cannon
May 15th, 2011 10:55am Report this commentFortunately Mr Huhne can rely upon the fund of goodwill and trust he has built up over the years with his colleagues.
Woody
May 15th, 2011 11:28am Report this commentPoliticians must be wondering if there is anyway secure way of communicationing now. Perhaps we will see the return of carrier-pidgeons, or 'dead-letter' drops. Either way, I don't envy them, their job just got a whole lot harder.
sinosimon
May 15th, 2011 11:34am Report this commentassuming this to be true, and the papers concerned claim to have taped evidence, then mr huhne will be sent down. I believe the norm to be about three months for this level of offence. if he pleads guilty to any charge he might strike lucky and get to share with his fellow lefties morley and chater. they can all discuss honesty and morality in public life together.
it really couldn't happen to a nicer chap, could it?
bojimbo
May 15th, 2011 11:50am Report this comment( sarcasm ) No super injunction ? ( sarcasm ) .
RCE
May 15th, 2011 12:08pm Report this commentWoody @ 11:28
Everybody's job is harder if it requires telling the truth.
TGF UKIP
May 15th, 2011 1:08pm Report this commentHas the said NY chambermaid been searched for Scottish banknotes?
Faceless Bureaucrat
May 15th, 2011 2:38pm Report this comment@ TGF UKIP
How odd, I was wondering the same thing...
FB
Justathought
May 15th, 2011 2:56pm Report this commentTo paraphrase someone from the audience on last weeks Question Time; " If someone claiming housing benefits lied about living with their partner because they were gay would they be treated the same as Laws?"
RichieP
May 15th, 2011 3:37pm Report this commentWrinkled Weasel: "As for his political career, it is over. Your collegues in Fleet Street have made sure of that."
At least he won't be around to continue managing the destruction of any more of Britain's economic future with his messianic eco policies. He deserves anything he gets. Vae victis!
George Laird
May 15th, 2011 4:45pm Report this commentDear All
I found the title of this post odd.
Is Chris Huhne a victim?
If a tape recording exists which cooks Chris Huhne then he is in real trouble.
Also under the Data Protection Act 1998, evidence can be collected if it is done so in order to prevent or bring to public attention that a crime may have been committed.
I believe in order to record the person must have 'reasonable belief' that a crime is being or about to be committed.
Chris Huhne has questions to answer.
And possibly not just from the press.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
nameless
May 15th, 2011 7:22pm Report this commentcynic
It kicked in last week
ernest
May 15th, 2011 8:02pm Report this commentA very similar case occurred in Australia a few years ago. Judge Marcus Einfeld was caught speeding and gave the name of an American professor as the driver. In fact, she had been dead for several years. He did two years porridge and is almost as nasty a piece of leftist work as Huhne.
The Remittance Man
May 16th, 2011 8:46am Report this commentOn the subject of Chris Huhne, I have to agree wholeheartedly with Mr Douglas. If he is guilty, the only thing of which he is the "victim" is his own arrogance and stupidity. This blame the messenger defence so relied upon by politicians is false and becoming tiresome.
As to Mr Strauss Kahn, why should a rape allegation ruin his chances of high office? Thrice disgraced MP Peter Mandelsohn managed to keep getting elected and picked for high office. Silvio Berlusconi became prime minister of Italy dspite his ... ahem ... colourful activities being pretty well known. And Jacob Zuma became president of South Africa despite narrowly avioding conviction for both rape and corruption.
To me it sounds like Strauss Kahn is simply doing his best to meet the membership criteria for an elite club.
The Remittance Man
May 16th, 2011 8:54am Report this commentSinosimon,
At this rate Ken Clarke is going to have to go back on his promise and build at least one new prison - to house all the bent MPs that keep getting sent down.
Funnily enough I suspect this would be a cost that the public would happily bear.
andrew taylor
May 16th, 2011 9:04am Report this commentBojimbo, perhaps you can only have one at a time :-)
As for Huhne's predicament: hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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