Huhne's speeding points wait finally over

By Alex Stevenson

Chris Huhne's political future is hanging in the balance as he waits to discover if he is to be charged over speeding points allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service will reveal whether it intends to press charges against the energy and climate change secretary at 10:00 GMT on Friday.

Mr Huhne career as a Cabinet minister has been undermined in the last year over allegations that he asked his ex-wife Vicky Pryce to take three speeding points on his behalf following a driving offence in 2003.

Essex police had been investigating the matter for several months, during which time officers questioned Mr Huhne twice.

The Sunday Times newspaper had fought attempts to force it to hand over an email from Mr Huhne to Ms Pryce, but abandoned its resistance last month.

Lib Dem ministers have stood by Mr Huhne. Business secretary Vince Cable said last May that his resignation would be a "loss" to the government, while deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has consistently accepted Mr Huhne's own denial that he did anything wrong.

Mr Clegg has not always taken Mr Huhne's predicament entirely seriously. He told the press gallery lunch last summer: "I really don't know any politician who is better at getting his points across."

Bookmakers William Hill made Mr Huhne the odds-on favourite to be the next minister to leave the Cabinet, cut from evens to 4/6.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "It is difficult to see how Mr Huhne could remain in the Cabinet if he were to be charged."

The speeding points scandal was ranked fourth in politics.co.uk's top ten political scandals of 2011.