Huhne and his former wife Vicky Pryce were both charged last year with perverting the course of justice over the allegation, said to relate to a speeding offence in 2003.

Pryce previously pled not guilty on the grounds of marital coercion and Huhne yesterday also entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

Former energy secretary Huhne, 58, from Eastleigh, Hants, stood down from the Cabinet following the charge last year, but remained the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh.

The events which led to the charges date back to March 2003 when Huhne's car was allegedly caught by a speed camera on the motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London.