The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Keir Starmer QC, has announced that the Energy Secretary, Mr Christopher Huhne, and Ms Vasiliki Pryce are to face criminal charges for perverting the course of justice.

A criminal complaint was made to Essex Police in May 2011, alleging that Ms Pryce had accepted responsibility for a speeding offence committed by Mr Huhne in 2003. That complaint was investigated by Essex Police and a file was passed to the CPS in late July 2011.

The CPS has considered all the available evidence and concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce for perverting the course of justice.

According to the CPS, the essence of the charges is that between March and May 2003, Mr Huhne, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted that she was the driver.

Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce deny the charges against them. They are due to appear in court on 16th February this year.