So What If Vicky Pryce Pleads Guilty?
Iain Dale thinks it's possible that Vicky Pryce may plead guilty and her ex husband pleads innocent. What then?
3 Feb 2012, 10:29
Chris Huhne
So, Chris Huhne takes over from Mr Frederick Goodwin as the nation's whipping boy. But like Fred, Chris Huhne has yet to be convicted of any criminal offence. If I were a Liberal Democrat activist (what an awful thought) I would no doubt be arguing that his political career should not suffer until he is convicted - innocent until proven guilty and all that. And in theory it's a perfectly fair point to make. The laws of natural justice should dictate just such a thing. But we suspend the laws of natural justice for politicians, and now bankers.
Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing the LibDem activist case, because like the rest of the world, I think it is politically naive to think that any politician can cling onto office when charged with an offence like this. Would a banker have to resign, though? Would a doctor? No. I guess the difference is that Chris Huhne is a lawmaker. But here we enter difficult territory, because you could equally argue, using that logic, that not only must he leave government, but he should be suspended from Parliament too, until his name is cleared. I'm not advocating it, I am just saying that will be where ''mobthink' heads next, no doubt.
Another issue to ponder on. What if Vicky Pryce pleads guilty and Chris Huhne doesn't? Where does that leave him? It would make his defence very difficult indeed. His statement makes clear his intention, but it is surely Pryce's plea which is key to this.
And will Vince Cable and Miriam Clegg be called to give evidence?
Despite the fact that I disagree with many of his policies, there is no doubt that Chris Huhne has performed impressively as a Cabinet Minister. Putting their party political hats on one side, most Tory Ministers will privately admit that. I'd say he is the LibDem who has performed best in Cabinet. One Cabinet Minister said to me: "If you get Chris Huhne to agree to do something, he delivers. He's a powerful ally in cabinet." He's also one of the few LibDem heavy hitters. For Nick Clegg to have lost David Laws and Chris Huhne from the Cabinet table within 18 months, it will be a bitter blow indeed. Ed Davey is no Chris Huhne. If I were Clegg, I'd give the post to Norman Lamb, a much better media performer than Ed Davey, and more popular within the party.
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Iain Dale
Iain Dale is publisher of Total Politics, MD of Biteback Publishing & presenter of LBC's evening show.
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Comments (3)
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Iain, you raise a very valid point indeed, what is Vicky Pryce does plead guilty? It would surely be in her interests and she would likely escape with a suspended sentence, especially as he was originally reported to have filled out the form without even consulting her. If she pleads not-guilty and is convicted she would almost certainly get a custodial. I think Ms Pryce will be into damage limitation.
As to Chris Huhne being an effective Cabinet Minister; does skinning the country chasing an at best epheremal green energy policy count as effective; does disloyalty and over-arching personal ambition count as effective.
I suspect that in a few months he will swap the 'hne' for 'bris' - Chris Hubris.
03/02/2012 11:19I'd rate Jeremy Browne more highly than both Davey and Lamb.
03/02/2012 11:20Yes Chris Huhne is a law-maker and hence honesty is a prerequisite. He also charged with leading the country through troubled waters - in this country standards and honesty should be what we expect of our leaders. This is a man whose election leaflets made big play of his "happy family" set up whilst at the same time conducting an affair, a man about to be in court on a serious offence,a man whose supposed strength in Cabinet has been to jump on the whole money making Green global warming wind turbine solar panel carbon neutral nonsense that is costing each and every tax payer a small fortune _ the Lib dems under their totally inadequate leader are making no contribution to Govt ( bar keeping Ed and Ed thankfully away from power)- and Huhne like Laws is a man who can't even tell the truth - and yes that does matter.
23/02/2012 10:27