Chris Huhne under new pressure over speeding penalty claims | Politics | The Observer

Energy secretary Chris Huhne is under fresh pressure over claims that he tried to avoid a driving ban as details emerged of a taped phone call during which he allegedly pressed a witness not to discuss the allegations.

Last weekend Huhne's estranged wife Vicky Pryce, from whom he separated last year, claimed that the Liberal Democrat cabinet minister "pressurised people" to take on his penalty points to avoid a driving ban. Huhne strenuously denied the claims.

On Saturday night the Sunday Times claimed it had obtained details of a phone call in which Huhne urged a witness to stay silent about the allegations. Huhne was reported as having said: "If I were you … do not talk. I would have thought you would not want to talk."

The paper suggested police were ready to launch inquiries into the allegations. Persuading someone to take penalty points is illegal.

Further details of the phone call, which is said to have taken place before the controversy broke last weekend, emerged in the Mail on Sunday.

It reports Huhne as warning the person who took the penalty points not to let "the genie" out of the bottle by revealing what happened. According to the paper he said: "There is no evidence for this story unless you give it some legs by saying something. The last thing you want is a half-baked story saying you've taken points for me."

Huhne is said to have added: "The story they are trying to stand up is that 'Cabinet minister persuaded XXX to take points'. The only way they can stand that up is by getting you to talk to them."

At one point during the 13-minute conversation, Huhne insisted there was no truth in the allegation. "There's no question of it coming out, because it's simply not true, that's it."

A week ago Pryce said she was "aware that he pressurised people to take his driving licence penalty points."

Asked whether the energy secretary had asked someone to take his points, she also said: "Yes, he did. But, look, there is such huge pressure on politicians to be everywhere at once, especially early in their career, so that they are visible – huge pressure – and he does drive a bit like a maniac."

The claims from Pryce, who is writing a "tell all" book about their break-up, are understood to relate to events in 2003, when Huhne was an MEP and before he became the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh.

With Pryce piling on the pressure, Huhne has taken on the services of a leading media lawyer, Charlotte Harris, a partner at London law firm Mishcon de Reya. So far Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister and Lib Dem leader, has stood by him. Harris has been heavily involved in exposing the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Last night no fresh statement had been issued by Huhne or Harris in response to the latest revelations.

The family turmoil for Huhne, who is now involved in complex divorce negotiations with Pryce, has surfaced at the highest point of his political career. In recent weeks he has launched outspoken attacks on the Tories for their tactics in the referendum, and has led the government's push to cut carbon emissions. With Clegg under pressure, some have speculated that Huhne could one day succeed him as leader.

Harris is a media specialist who focuses on pre- and post-publication advice, injunctions, defamation, privacy, harassment and unlawful interceptions of telephone use and correspondence of those in the public eye. Her clients have included MPs, celebrities, sports agents and others who have found themselves at the centre of media scrutiny.

She has represented the Dewani family who, following the death of Shrien Dewani's wife Anni in South Africa, became the subject of intense media attention. Harris is advising the family in respect to potential privacy or defamation claims and to any incidence of press harassment.

The allegations against Huhne are understood to have been raised by Pryce with tabloid newspapers last year. However, it is believed she was reluctant at that time to publicly attack Huhne, with whom she has three children.

Her decision to go public with her claims appears to have been made in response to speculation in Westminster that Huhne was manoeuvring himself into a position to be a potential leader of the Lib Dems.

The energy secretary was outspoken in attacking the leadership of the Conservative party over their tactics in the run up to the referendum on the alternative vote.