Former minister jailed for deception

Disgraced former British energy minister Chris Huhne was yesterday jailed for eight months for lying to police about a speeding offence in a bizarre tale of adultery and revenge that gripped the public.

Huhne’s ex-wife Vicky Pryce, a prominent econ-omist, was also jailed for eight months for her role in the deception.

Prior to the scandal, Huhne, aged 58, had been seen as a potential leader of the Liberal Democrats, junior partners of the Conservatives in the ruling coalition government.