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  1. Politics
7 March 2013

Did the Lib Dems know about Huhne’s points swap?

Newly-released emails show that Vicky Pryce claimed to have told Vince Cable and others about the incident.

By George Eaton

Did senior Lib Dems know that Vicky Pryce accepted speeding points on Chris Huhne’s behalf? That’s the suggestion from a series of fascinating emails released from the trial following Pryce’s conviction. 

In an email dated 9 April 2011, Huhne’s former wife told the Sunday Times’s Isabel Oakeshott: 

Actually I had told Vince [Cable] and Rachel [his wife] about points before when the three of us were having supper about a month ago – they were horrified at the time but VC has probably forgotten it by now. He was v tired that night.

Nine days later, she informed Oakeshott:

Having lunch with Miriam c tmr. Should I hint at anything? I told Vince there is something hanging over him [Huhne] and he wanted to tell Clegg.

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On 26 April 2011, Oakeshott asked Pryce:

To what extent is Clegg aware that something is hanging over Huhne (you mentioned it to Miriam, didn’t you?)

Pryce replied:

Yes, I have told VC [Vince Cable], Miriam C, MOak [Lord Oakeshott] … and a few other Lib Dem Lords and others working close to NC [Nick Clegg]. 

Unsurprisingly, the Lib Dems have been quick to deny any suggestion of a cover-up. A party spokesman said: “Vince, Matthew and Miriam are all clear that the allegation about driving points was not raised with them.”

In addition, a spokesman for Cable said: “Vince and Rachel have no recollection of the issue of points being raised with them over the course of dinner with Vicky Price on 28 January 2011.

They have consulted their personal records which confirm that the issue first came to their attention in May 2011 when the story broke in the press.”

Miriam González Durántez said: “I have never ever been told by Vicky or anybody else about the traffic points story. I got to know about this when everybody else did.”

And Lord Oakeshott, a close ally of Cable and a third cousin of Isabel Oakeshott, said: “Vicky must have been under great pressure but I am sure she never raised a question of points with me”. 

But were they aware of “indirect” and “non-specific” concerns? That’s the question that will be asked. 

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