Former Cabinet Minister to pay over £77,000 costs

Former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne has been ordered to pay £77,750 for the costs of his prosecution for passing speeding points to his ex-wife.

In a judgment handed down by Mr Justice Sweeney at Southwark Crown Court today, Huhne's ex-wife, economist Vicky Pryce, was ordered to pay £49,200.

Prosecutors had claimed more than £100,000 from Huhne, who pleaded guilty lastFebruary on the first day of his trial, after months of denials and protracted attempts to get the case against him thrown out.

Both he and Pryce, who was convicted by a jury, have served prison sentences for perverting the course of justice when she took speeding points for her then-husband in 2003.