Former energy secretary faces prosecution over claims his ex-wife took his speeding points on her licence in 2003

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Chris Huhne has resigned as energy secretary after the director of public prosecutions announced he would face a criminal charge in connection with allegedly dodging a speeding offence.

He will be replaced at the Department for Energy and Climate Change by Ed Davey, the business minister.

In a televised announcement on Friday morning, the DPP, Keir Starmer, said Huhne's former wife, Vicky Pryce, would also be prosecuted over allegations she took speeding penalty points on his behalf in 2003.

Huhne is to be charged with perverting the course of justice, Starmer said. Huhne said the decision to charge him was "deeply regrettable", adding: "I am innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts."

Pryce, who divorced Huhne in January last year, is to be charged with perverting the course of justice. Huhne and Pryce were told of the decision an hour before Starmer made his announcement.

They are due to appear before Westminster magistrates court on 16 February.

Pryce said in a statement released by her lawyers: "As the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] have decided to prosecute it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage. Obviously I hope for a quick resolution of the case. In the meantime I will be taking a little time off over the next few days to be with my family."

Huhne travelled from a Liberal Democrat awayday in Eastbourne on Thursday and was in London at the time Starmer made the announcement at 10am.

It is the second enforced departure of a Lib Dem minister since the coalition came to power. David Laws resigned as Treasury chief secretary over expenses allegations.

Davey's promotion maintains the agreed proportion of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats around the cabinet table fixed in the 2010 coalition negotiations.

The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said he had told Huhne he would like to see him "back in government in a key position" if he cleared his name.

The Lib Dem leader's parliamentary aide Norman Lamb was promoted to Davey's former position in the Department for Business, while the Lib Dem MP for Cardiff Central, Jenny Willott, becomes an assistant government whip.

Huhne said he felt it necessary to resign because the battle to clear his name would be too much of a distraction to continue in office.

The charge relates to a speeding offence committed on 12 March 2003. Essex police have been investigating whether Huhne asked Pryce to take the points on her licence on his behalf.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place while Huhne was driving back from Stansted airport after flying in from the European parliament, where he was an MEP at the time. Since he already had points on his licence, Huhne would have faced a driving ban had any further penalties been imposed, it is alleged.

Last week, Essex police – who began their inquiry in May last year – took possession of emails and other material from the Sunday Times, who published an interview with Pryce, a successful economist, in which she first made the allegations.

Detectives also have access to a tape in which Pryce allegedly discusses the issue with Huhne.

The former energy secretary left Pryce, his wife of 27 years, in 2010.