THE entire Lib Dem team is behind Chris Huhne.

That is the message from leader of Eastleigh Borough Council Keith House as the police contact the prosecutors over claims the Eastleigh MP dodged speeding penalty points.

The Energy and Climate Change cabinet minister is accused of persuading his wife to take the blame so he could avoid a driving ban, a claim he has strongly denied.

However Councillor House insisted the underfire politician had the party’s full support. This endorsement was not resounding from several other senior figures however, who were unavailable or refused to comment.

Cllr House said: “Chris is a fantastic cabinet minister and a great MP. In a year in Government he has already achieved more than most do in a lifetime.”

However, he claimed he has not been following the story so he refused to say whether, if found guilty of a crime, the top-level politician will need to step down.

He said: “Chris has the backing of the whole team. I am sure he will continue to be an effective political force both in the constituency and the country.”

This was not the view of Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear, who founded the Independent Party of Eastleigh Councillors.

He said: “If these claims turn out to be true he will have to go from Westminster and from the constituency post.

“I feel not to do so would do the party nationally and locally untold damage.”

Police investigating Mr Huhne have revealed they have made contact with prosecutors.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Essex Police had “opened channels”.

No evidence files have yet been submitted, and charging advice has not been offered, according to a spokesman.

The Liberal Democrat and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were interviewed by detectives earlier this week over claims that he persuaded her to accept a penalty on his behalf in March 2003, when he was an MEP.

Images of Ms Pryce’s driving licence have emerged indicating that she received points for an offence in the Essex area on the date in question. But she is believed to have told police that she was actually at an event in London and Mr Huhne was behind the wheel.

Mr Huhne, who left Ms Pryce for his former campaign aide last year, denies the allegations.

Both Prime Minister David Cameron and his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg have insisted there is no reason he should resign at this stage.