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Vicky Pryce wanted to expose Chris Huhne's 'true character', court told Vicky Pryce wanted to expose Chris Huhne's 'true character', court told
(about 2 hours later)
Disgraced MP Chris Huhne's former wife confided in a political journalist over lunch about how he had got her to take his speeding points years before, a court has heard. The former wife of the disgraced ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne told a journalist she had taken his speeding points because she felt she "owed it to voters" to expose his true character, a court has heard.
Isabel Oakeshott, the political editor of the Sunday Times, said Vicky Pryce told her Huhne had pressurised her into taking the points, giving her a "fait accompli". Vicky Pryce confided in Isabel Oakeshott, political editor of the Sunday Times, that Huhne had pressured her into it, and that she had been presented with a fait accompli.
Oakeshott, who first met Pryce by chance at the Liberal Democrat party conference in 2010, shortly after her marriage to Huhne had broken down, went on to work with the economist to get the story published. Oakeshott told a jury her understanding was that the first Pryce knew of the speeding offence was when a letter arrived saying she was the "nominated driver". She said Pryce had been shocked and furious, and had confronted Huhne, saying "what the fuck is this about".
Giving evidence at Pryce's trial at Southwark crown court, in London, on Thursday Oakeshott said that as the pair discussed publishing the story in email conversations, it was clear to her that Pryce wanted to expose what she saw as Huhne's wrongdoing. Pryce has denied a charge of perverting the course of justice on the grounds of marital coercion.
"Vicky was a very, very hurt woman and she was quite clear that she felt that Chris, her former husband, did not deserve to be in the position of immense responsibility that he had at that time," she said. Giving evidence at Pryce's trial, Oakeshott said she had first met the economist at the Liberal Democrat party conference in 2010 and they established a rapport. During a lunch at Christopher's in Covent Garden in March 2011, Pryce had mentioned how Huhne had got her to take his speeding points at the end of the meal, and "slightly under her breath".
"I am very clear that she wanted to expose what she saw as his true character." "It was clearly a very interesting and serious allegation against a serving government minister," Oakeshott said.
Oakeshott said that after meeting Pryce briefly at the party conference, she made arrangements to meet her for lunch. "Vicky was a very, very hurt woman and it was quite clear that she felt that Chris, her former husband, did not deserve to be in the position of immense responsibility that he had at that time. I am very clear she wanted to expose what she saw as his true character."
"Vicky Pryce had been a senior government economist so she was interesting in her own right to me for her views on the economy," she said. Huhne had ambitions to be leader of the Liberal Democrats and Pryce felt she "owed it to voters" to reveal the offence.
"Secondly, she was at that time still married, although their relationship had disintegrated, to a cabinet minister, so I was interested in her relationship to him and how it had broken down. In subsequent emails, the two discussed how to publish the allegations. She said that at the time Pryce was considering writing a book about the breakdown of her marriage, which had ended when Huhne left her for PR adviser Carina Trimingham.
"I met her for lunch in early March and we talked a bit about the breakdown of her marriage and during that conversation she mentioned to me towards the end of the meal that she had taken speeding points on behalf of her husband, she had been pressured to do that. Pryce was in a "fragile state", Oakeshott said. She was also concerned about the risk of prosecution to herself.
"Obviously that's a very serious allegation against a serving government minister." Oakeshott said it was Pryce's idea to tape Huhne's conversations in the hope he would make an admission. "I thought it was a good idea," Oakeshott said. The Sunday Times provided recording equipment. But there was "no clear unambiguous admission".
She said Pryce had made the allegation "slightly under her breath", and did not go into details, but mentioned it had happened in 2003. Eventually it was agreed Oakeshott would interview Pryce about juggling her career and family as a political wife. "I would ask about rumours that have been going around Westminster that Chris Huhne has asked somebody to take penalty points for him. Then she would be able to respond in the affirmative."
Oakeshott said Pryce was concerned about how the story might impact on her. "She is a high-flying, professional woman who is clever enough to always have in mind her own reputation, and my hope was to get her to talk openly about what had happened, no ducking or diving." An agreement was drawn up between Pryce and the Sunday Times.
The trial continues. Under cross-examination, by Julian Knowles QC, Oakeshott described Pryce at the time as being "constantly on the verge of tears".
"It took very little to tip her into a tearful condition. It was an extraordinary contrast between this tough and successful woman wearing a suit and high heels, beautifully presented, but that seemed to be armour for her. She was emotional in fact.
"This was a broken woman. Her marriage had collapsed in the most dramatic and horrible circumstances. She was clearly absolutely devastated."
Oakeshott said she believed Pryce was still "very much in love" with Huhne.
She said Pryce had never wavered in her account and she believed her to be telling the truth "whatever her agenda might be".
"There was no secret she wanted to expose what she saw as the bad side of her husband, clearly. I didn't think that she would make something up that would potentially incriminate herself. And if you were making something up you would make something up that was a bit better than that."
Oakeshott said Pryce "felt that voters ought to know the true character of her husband". It was clear from Oakeshott's correspondence with Pryce "she was also slightly vengeful".
The case continues.