Chris Huhne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Huhne
Huhne in 2011
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
In office 12 May 2010 – 3 February 2012
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Ed Miliband
Succeeded by	Ed Davey
Liberal Democrat frontbench positions Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson In office 20 December 2007 – 12 May 2010 Leader Nick Clegg Preceded by Nick Clegg Succeeded by Lynne Featherstone (2015) Liberal Democrat Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Spokesman In office 3 March 2006 – 19 December 2007 Leader Menzies Campbell Vince Cable (Acting) Preceded by Norman Baker Succeeded by Steve Webb Liberal Democrat Deputy Treasury Spokesman In office 16 May 2005 – 3 March 2006 Leader Charles Kennedy Preceded by David Laws Succeeded by Julia Goldsworthy
Member of Parliament for Eastleigh
In office 5 May 2005 – 5 February 2013
Preceded by	David Chidgey
Succeeded by	Mike Thornton
Member of the European Parliament for South East England
In office 10 June 1999 – 12 May 2005
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Sharon Bowles
Personal details
Born	Christopher Murray Paul-Huhne (1954-07-02) 2 July 1954 (age 71) London, England
Political party	Labour Party (before 1981) Social Democratic Party (1981–1988) Liberal Democrats (1988–2013) Independent (since 2013)
Spouse	Vicky Pryce ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 2011)​
Domestic partner	Carina Trimingham (2010–present)
Children	3
Alma mater	Magdalen College, Oxford

Christopher Murray Paul Huhne (born 2 July 1954) is a British expert on energy and climate change. He used to be a journalist, an economist, and a politician. He was a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastleigh from 2005 to 2013. He also served as the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2010 to 2012.

Today, he leads the UK green gas association, the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association. He also advises the World Biogas Association. Chris Huhne helps companies with new energy technologies. He is especially interested in renewable energy sources that can support power from wind and solar.

Before his political career, he wrote for newspapers like The Guardian and Independent on Sunday. From 1994 to 1999, he built a business that advised on how financially stable countries were. This business is now part of Fitch Ratings, a big global ratings company.

Huhne tried twice to become the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. In 2006, he came second to Sir Menzies Campbell. In 2007, he lost closely to Nick Clegg. His time in politics ended in 2013 due to a personal legal matter. He later settled a dispute with a newspaper company, News Corporation, over how they gathered information. He said they targeted him because he had asked for a closer look into how newspapers collected information.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up and School

Chris Huhne was born in west London on July 2, 1954. His father, Peter Paul-Huhne, was a businessman, and his mother, Ann Murray, was an actress. He went to Westminster School for his education.

He then studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. There, he was a "Demy," which is like a scholar. He also edited the student magazine Isis. He studied in Paris at the Sorbonne. At Oxford, he earned a top degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). He was active in student politics and supported the Labour Party.

Before Becoming a Politician

From 1977 to 1980, Huhne worked as a reporter in Brussels for The Economist. He then became an economics editor and writer for The Guardian and The Independent on Sunday. He was the business editor for The Independent and The Independent on Sunday when they investigated financial issues at the Mirror group. He also worked as a freelance reporter in India and for the Liverpool Echo.

He won awards for financial journalism in 1980 and 1989. He also co-wrote a book called Debt & Danger: The World Financial Crisis (1985) and wrote Real World Economics (1990).

Before entering politics, he started a company in the City. This company, IBCA Sovereign Ratings, began in 1994. It aimed to "measure the risks of investing in different countries." He later became a managing director and vice-chairman at Fitch Ratings.

Running for Parliament

Chris Huhne first ran for Parliament in 1983 in Reading East. He came second. In 1987, he ran again in Oxford West and Abingdon. He did not win these elections.

Member of European Parliament (1999–2005)

In June 1999, Chris Huhne was elected to the European Parliament. He represented South East England. The Liberal Democrats came third in the election. This allowed the top two candidates from their list, Emma Nicholson and Chris Huhne, to become Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

He was re-elected in 2004. In 2005, he decided to run for the UK Parliament in Eastleigh. After he won that election, Sharon Bowles took his place as an MEP for South East England.

While in the European Parliament, Huhne was known as one of the most visible UK MEPs. He was part of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. This committee dealt with economic and financial rules. He helped introduce "sunset clauses" into European Union law. These clauses put time limits on certain powers. He also worked to make the European Central Bank more open.

He also helped shape Liberal Democrat policies. He led groups on topics like media, globalization, and public services. He believed that improving public services needed money, but also local control.

Member of Parliament

Chris Huhne was first elected as an MP for Eastleigh on 5 May 2005. This area was one he had already represented in the European Parliament. The previous MP for Eastleigh was also a Liberal Democrat. Huhne won his seat by a small number of votes in 2005.

In the 2010 general election, he won his seat again with more votes. He stopped being an MP for Eastleigh on 5 February 2013. He was the first Liberal Democrat MP to resign a parliamentary seat since 1941.

Treasury Spokesman Role

After he was elected to the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, made Huhne the party's shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. In this role, Huhne led discussions on financial laws. He suggested changes to stop a loophole in pension rules. The government later agreed to make this change.

Liberal Democrat Leadership Contests

Chris Huhne ran for the Liberal Democrat leadership twice.

2006 Leadership Contest

In 2006, he ran against Sir Menzies Campbell and Simon Hughes. He started his campaign on 13 January 2006. Huhne focused on "green taxation." He suggested increasing taxes on pollution. This would allow for lower income taxes for people earning less. This idea appealed to environmentalists and those who believed in free markets.

He also wanted to change some anti-terrorism laws. He felt these laws reduced British civil liberties. He also called for British troops to leave Iraq within a year. He described himself as a "social liberal."

Most Liberal Democrat MPs supported Sir Menzies Campbell. However, Huhne received support from some important party members. Newspapers like The Economist and The Independent also supported him. He gained a lot of support through an internet campaign.

In the final vote, Huhne came second. Sir Menzies Campbell won with more votes. Campbell then made Huhne the Liberal Democrat's environment spokesman. This allowed Huhne to develop his ideas on green policies.

2007 Leadership Contest

After Sir Menzies Campbell resigned in October 2007, Huhne was seen as a strong candidate. On 17 October, he was the first to announce he would run. He said he wanted a "fairer and greener society." He believed everyone should have the chance to reach their full potential.

Huhne gained support from many colleagues. However, his rival, Nick Clegg, had more support from MPs. Former Liberal leader Lord Steel supported Huhne. This was partly because of Huhne's views on the Trident nuclear program.

In the end, Nick Clegg won by a small number of votes. About 1,300 postal votes arrived too late to be counted. An unofficial check showed Huhne had enough votes among them to have won. But Huhne accepted the result. He said: "Nick Clegg won fair and square on the rules." After the election, Clegg chose Huhne to be the party's Home Affairs Spokesman.

Home Affairs Spokesman Role

David Cameron and Nick Clegg outside the Houses of Parliament, with Huhne in the background

In October 2008, as the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Huhne spoke out against government plans. These plans aimed to collect more records of people's electronic communications. The government said this was needed to fight terrorism. But Huhne disagreed. He said: "The Government's plans for a huge database of our private communications are deeply worrying."

In January 2009, Huhne found out about a government data loss. A company lost a computer disc with bank details of public servants. Huhne blamed the government for this. He said it showed why the UK should not have identity cards.

In November 2007, Huhne made comments about the Speaker of the House of Commons on a TV show. He claimed the Speaker, Michael Martin, had fallen asleep during a speech. Huhne later apologized publicly in the House of Commons. He said: "It was wrong of me to draw the Chair into a matter of political dispute."

Expenses Claims

Newspapers looked into expense claims by MPs. Huhne was reported to have claimed for things like groceries and a trouser press. He claimed £5,066 for painting his garden fences and chairs in 2006. He later said he would pay back the cost of the trouser press to "avoid controversy." He explained on TV that he needed it to "look smart" for work. His total expense claims were below average compared to other MPs.

Working in Government (2010–2012)

After the 2010 general election, Chris Huhne was part of the Liberal Democrat team. They worked with the Conservatives to form a coalition government. After this, Huhne became the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. This was a very important role in the new government. He was also appointed as a Privy Counsellor on 13 May 2010.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Chris Huhne was a strong supporter of environmental causes. He took on the role of Secretary of State to make the country more environmentally aware. One of his first actions was to launch National Wind Week. He even put an 8-foot wind turbine at his home in Eastleigh.

Views on Nuclear Energy

In government, Huhne had a flexible view on nuclear energy. He supported a "portfolio" approach to energy. This meant using nuclear energy, developing more renewable energy (like wind and sea power), and using new technology to capture carbon from fossil fuels. After the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011, he said they would need to look at the costs of nuclear power. This showed a change in his thinking. In 2007, he had said that nuclear energy was "a tried, tested and failed technology."

Cancun Climate Change Conference

On 9 December 2010, Huhne represented the UK at the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Over 190 countries attended this meeting. They agreed on a plan to reduce climate change. Prime Minister David Cameron called it a "very significant step forward." The agreement included a plan for a fund to help developing countries reduce their carbon emissions. Huhne said it was a "serious package" of actions. He also said there was more work to do before the next meeting.

Resignation from Cabinet

On 3 February 2012, Chris Huhne resigned from the Cabinet. This was due to a personal legal matter from 2003. He resigned as an MP on 5 February 2013 and left the Privy Council. He later wrote that he believed he was targeted by a newspaper group because he had supported an investigation into how newspapers gathered information.

Career After Parliament

Since leaving Parliament, Chris Huhne has worked as an adviser and consultant on energy and climate change. In 2013, he became the European Chairman of Zilkha Biomass Energy. This company makes wood chip pellets in the United States. He also advised Nationwide Energy Services, a company focused on saving energy.

Until 2014, Huhne wrote a weekly column for The Guardian. He also provided advice to new companies in his field of renewable energy. From 2014 to 2018, he was a senior adviser for the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA). This group represents renewable natural gas plants in the UK. In June 2022, he became the chair of ADBA. He is also a senior adviser to the World Biogas Association.

Depictions in Media

Chris Huhne has been played by actors in television films. In 2010, Alan Parnaby played him in On Expenses. In 2015, Rob Vowles played him in Coalition.

Personal Life

Chris Huhne married economist Vicky Pryce in 1984. They had three children together. In 2007, during a leadership campaign, Huhne spoke about his family. He said: "Relationships, including particularly family relationships, are actually the most important things in making people happy and fulfilled." He and Pryce divorced in January 2011.

Interests and Publications

Huhne's personal interests include "Electoral reform." He also lists "European single currency, economics, Third World debt and development, Europe." He is or was a member of groups like the European Movement and the National Union of Journalists.

Before his political career, Huhne wrote several books. These books mainly focused on Third-World debt and European integration. His book Both Sides of the Coin (1999) discussed arguments for and against Britain joining the euro. His first book, Debt and Danger (1985), analyzed the 1984 Third World debt crisis.

He also contributed to The Orange Book (2004). In this book, he suggested changes to the United Nations. He also wrote articles for newspapers like Financial Times and The Guardian. While he was an MEP, he wrote a weekly column for the London Evening Standard about European topics.

Writings

Books

• Harold Lever and Christopher Huhne, Debt and Danger: The World Financial Crisis (Penguin, London, 1986).
• Christopher Huhne, Real World Economics: Essays on Imperfect Markets And Fallible Governments (Penguin, London, 1991).
• Michael Emerson and Christopher Huhne (with a foreword by Jacques Delors), The ECU Report: The Single European Currency, and What it Means for You (Pan Books, London, 1991).
• James Forder and Christopher Huhne, Both Sides of the Coin: The Arguments For and Against the Euro and European Monetary Union (Profile Books, London, 1998).

Book Chapters

• "Brussels and the European Economy" in Graham Watson and Joanna Hazelwood (eds), To the Power of Ten: Essays by the UK Liberal Democrats in Parliament (Centre for Reform, London, 2000).
• "Progressive Economics: Trust the People" in Neal Lawson and Neil Sherlock (eds), The Progressive Century: The Future of the Centre-Left in Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2001).
• "Global Governance, Legitimacy and Renewal" in Paul Marshall and David Laws (eds), The Orange Book (Profile Books, London, 2004).
• "Globalisation" in Stephen Barber (ed.), The City in Europe and the World (European Research Forum at London Metropolitan University, London, 2006).
• "The Economy and Climate Change" in Duncan Brack, Richard Grayson and David Howarth (eds), Reinventing the State: Social Liberalism for the 21st Century (Politico's, London, 2007).
• "The Case for Localism: The Liberal Narrative" in Duncan Brack, Richard Grayson and David Howarth (eds), Reinventing the State: Social Liberalism for the 21st Century (Politico's, London, 2007).
• "Green Growth" in Duncan Brack, Paul Burall, Neil Stockley and Mike Tuffrey (eds), The Green Book: New Directions for Liberals in Government (Politico's, London, 2013).
• "Going Green Has to Be Fair" in Duncan Brack, Paul Burall, Neil Stockley and Mike Tuffrey (eds), The Green Book: New Directions for Liberals in Government (Politico's, London, 2013).

Pamphlets

• Paddy Ashdown, Alan Beith, Frances Cairncross, Mark Goyder, Dieter Helm, Christopher Huhne, Robert Hutchison, David Marquand, Nancy Seear, Christopher Smallwood and Hilary Wainwright, People, Prosperity and Politics: A LINk Conference (LINk Publications, Hebden Bridge, 1989).
• Richard Layard, Willem Buiter, David Currie, Christopher Huhne, Will Hutton, Peter Kenen, Robert Mundell and Adair Turner, The Case For The Euro (Britain in Europe, London, 2000).
• Richard Layard, Willem Buiter, Christopher Huhne, Will Hutton, Peter B. Kenen and Adair Turner, Why Britain Should Join the Euro (Britain in Europe, London, 2002).
• Charles Kennedy, Edward Davey, Chris Huhne, Charles Secrett and Adair Turner, with a foreword by Ralf Dahrendorf, "Funding Society: Can Taxation Be Fun and Popular?" — Report of the Liberal Summer School, Guildford, 2001 (Centre for Reform, London, May 2002).
• Tony Robinson, Theresa May, Chris Huhne and Matt Carter, The Future of Political Parties: Tony Robinson, Theresa May, Chris Huhne, Matt Carter in Conversation (New Politics Network, London, 2007).
• Chris Huhne, Climate Change: The Science, the Geopolitics and the Economics (CentreForum, London, 2011).

Images for kids

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  Chris Huhne in 2011