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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 |
| (8 days later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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". | 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". |
| Pryce has denied a charge of perverting the course of justice on the grounds of marital coercion. | Pryce has denied a charge of perverting the course of justice on the grounds of marital coercion. |
| 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". | 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". |
| "It was clearly a very interesting and serious allegation against a serving government minister," Oakeshott said. | "It was clearly a very interesting and serious allegation against a serving government minister," Oakeshott said. |
| "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 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." |
| Huhne had ambitions to be leader of the Liberal Democrats and Pryce felt she "owed it to voters" to reveal the offence. | Huhne had ambitions to be leader of the Liberal Democrats and Pryce felt she "owed it to voters" to reveal the offence. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Pryce was in a "fragile state", Oakeshott said. She was also concerned about the risk of prosecution to herself. | Pryce was in a "fragile state", Oakeshott said. She was also concerned about the risk of prosecution to herself. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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." | 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." |
| An agreement was drawn up between Pryce and the Sunday Times. | An agreement was drawn up between Pryce and the Sunday Times. |
| Under cross-examination, by Julian Knowles QC, Oakeshott described Pryce at the time as being "constantly on the verge of tears". | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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". | 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." | "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". | 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. | The case continues. |
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