Page "Eastleigh" Paragraph 21

In 2005 Chris Huhne was elected as the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament ( MP ) for the Eastleigh constituency after the previous MP ( David Chidgey, also Liberal Democrat ) retired.

Eastleigh has a tradition of close contests, and Huhne narrowly beat the Conservative candidate Conor Burns with the second lowest swing against the Liberal Democrats of any seat with a retiring MP ( 2. 6 %).

David Chidgey had succeeded the Conservative MP Stephen Milligan after his high profile death.

Chris Huhne was appointed as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change following the 2010 general election.

He resigned from the Cabinet in February 2012 when he was charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case.