Energy secretary Chris Huhne resigns

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne has resigned following news that he will be prosecuted on charges of perverting the course of justice.

The director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer announced today that Huhne and his wife would face charges for allegedly misinforming the police that Huhne’s wife was driving his car in 2003 when his car was caught speeding.

Huhne has denied any wrongdoing.

Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey has been appointed in Huhne’s place, with fellow Lib Dem Norman Lamb taking on Davey’s former brief.

In his time as energy secretary he oversaw the fiasco over solar feed-in-tariffs, the collapse of the government’s first full size carbon capture trial, and gave the green light to the nation’s first nuclear power plants in 20 years.

Huhne has a reputation for being a staunch advocate for green policy within the government and has reportedly fought the Treasury over moves such as dropping plans to roll out display energy certificates for all commercial buildings, a policy which had significant industry support.