Huhne 'Fully Denies Licence Points Claims'

Cabinet minister Chris Huhne continues to deny allegations he asked his wife to take driving penalty points for him, according to Sky sources.

The claims centre on whether the Energy Secretary was caught by a speed camera in Essex eight years ago when he was an MEP in Brussels.

It is alleged Mr Huhne asked his then-wife Vicky Pryce, who is divorcing the MP after he left her for another woman, to take the points so he would not get a driving ban.

Lying about who was driving to escape penalty points is a criminal offence and Essex Police are looking into the matter .

Mr Huhne has said the accusation was "simply incorrect" and he was "delighted" the issue was being investigated by police, as he wants to draw a line under it.

Ryanair has been asked to provide passenger records to see if its lists can confirm whether or not Mr Huhne flew back to the UK on the day of the speeding offence.

Furthermore it is claimed Ms Pryce had been at an event at the London School of Economics on the evening in question.

But reports in several Sunday newspapers continue to pile pressure on the embattled Liberal Democrat politician.

According to a source quoted by the Sunday Times, Mr Huhne may tell officers he cannot remember if he was behind the wheel on March 12, 2003.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday claims to have obtained the driving licence of his estranged wife.

The paper said it shows she took three points for speeding on the day Mr Huhne is said to have been caught by a speed camera.

A third claim, that Mr Huhne asked another person to take points on their licence prior to 2003, was reported in the Sunday Telegraph.

The Energy Secretary's job would be on the line if he was found to have broken the law - but so far, he has been backed by his colleagues in Government.

On Monday, a Downing Street spokesman said David Cameron had "full confidence" in Mr Huhne and Nick Clegg's aides have used similar language.

As the row goes on, they will come under pressure to reiterate their support for him and reassure voters the claims are not interfering with his ability to do his job.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sky News on Sunday that it was up to Mr Huhne to decide whether he should step down.

He said: "Those things are being questioned, but the police are looking into it and so what can we do? We have to let that process take place. It's his decision."

Mr Huhne has volunteered to speak to police and is likely to meet them this week.

The tone and outcome of that meeting will be critical to the Energy Secretary's future - it could allow him to clear his name, or it could significantly ramp up the pressure up on Mr Huhne to step down.

On a separate issue, he has had to deny claims made by two former councillors in his Eastleigh constituency he made a "false declaration" on his election expenses last year.

The accusation he spent more than he declared is being looked at by the Electoral Commission.

However, Mr Huhne has said all his expenses were checked and accepted at the time and he has no reason to believe there were irregularities.

Tony Blair's director of communications Alastair Campbell famously remarked if a minister is still "the story" after two weeks they are in trouble.

It has been a fortnight since the allegations against Mr Huhne first hit the frontpages, so he and the rest of the coalition will be keen not to allow it to dominate a third week.