Huhne: Another Lib Dem cover up? – Media and Blog roundup: March 8th 2013

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Huhne: Another Lib Dem cover up?

“Senior Liberal Democrats were dragged into the Chris Huhne scandal last night amid sensational claims that his ex-wife Vicky Pryce confided in them two years ago. In a nightmare for a party still reeling from sexual harassment allegations, Pryce claimed in previously undisclosed emails that she told key figures of a looming scandal involving her husband. Pryce, who is facing jail after being convicted of perverting the course of justice, said Business Secretary Vince Cable and his wife Rachel had been horrified when she told them of the crime over dinner in January 2011. This was a full four months before the scandal first broke.” – Daily Mail

Farage suggests Tory/UKIP pact – if Cameron goes

“Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, held a private dinner with Rupert Murdoch earlier this week in which he suggested he would form an electoral pact with the Conservatives if the Prime Minister stepped down. The media tycoon invited Mr Farage to a dinner at his central London flat on Tuesday evening in the wake of Ukip’s strong performance at the Eastleigh by-election. It was the pair’s first meeting and underlines the growing political influence of the fringe party. The Ukip leader is understood to have told Mr Murdoch that he hopes to win half of the seats in next year’s European election.” – Telegraph

Other highlights

• Senior Tory backbencher says MPs should have more power –Telegraph
• Benefit tourists are just political phantoms – Philip Collins, The Times(£)
• Will Labour have to get used to u-turns? – Isabel Hardman, Spectator
• Lib Dems in “critical state” says Farron – BBC