Huhne release ‘damaged confidence in system’

Nick Herbert, who also served under the coalition, said many MPs found it difficult to understand Mr Huhne’s release from prison two months into an eight-month sentence for perverting the course of justice after his then-wife took speeding points for him.

He said he supported proposals in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill that would end automatic early release schemes for paedophiles and terrorists.

Mr Herbert said the public often could not understand why any offenders would be released early as he revealed MPs found it difficult to accept Mr Huhne getting out of jail after two months.

During the Bill’s second reading, he told the Commons: “Even members of this House of Commons find it difficult to understand or accept it when we learn of the early release of offenders.

“Many of us noted with surprise, for instance, when former members of this House had been sentenced for a determinate sentence of some months, say for instance an eight-month sentence has been handed down by the courts, and no 
sooner than you can say the words ‘Liberal Democrat’ than after two months that offender is released early – in this case, of course, in order to serve a period on home detention curfew, subsequently to enjoy a new career writing articles for the Guardian.

“All of this undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system.”