EASTLEIGH MP, Chris Huhne, has vowed to continue serving his constituents despite being exposed as a love cheat.

His 26-year marriage publicly collapsed at the weekend after it was revealed that he had been having an affair with the woman who had led his publicity campaign in the General Election.

The coalition government’s newly-installed Lib-Dem energy and climate minister confirmed that he had been in a “serious relationship” with Carina Trimingham and that his marriage to Vicky Pryce was over.

His 57-year-old wife, with whom he has three children, is chief economic adviser to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

She is thought to have learned of her husband’s infidelity at the weekend after photographers snapped Mr Huhne and 44-year-old Carina Trimingham leaving his Eastleigh home after spending the night together celebrating her birthday.

It looks likely that Mr Huhne, a multi-millionaire who owns seven properties, will hold on to his government post as both Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his deputy, Nick Clegg, have backed the highflying cabinet member.

The revelations sparked concerns from Mr Huhne’s constituents that, with his various houses, his cabinet responsibilities and his mistress in London, the 55-year-old grandfather may spend more time in the capital.

But friends of the Eastleigh MP, who strengthened his majority during the May elections, said he had vowed to continue to live and serve in the town.

In a statement, he said: “I am in a serious relationship with Carina Trimingham and I am separating from my wife.”

Carina Trimingham is currently campaigns director at the Electoral Reform Society and she had previously worked in PR and for the BBC and Sky News.

Before becoming an MP in 2005, Mr Huhne had been a national journalist and city economist.

Mr Huhne’s election leaflet showed him as a happily married family man pictured with his wife and children in photos captioned: “Getting married doesn’t seem like 26 years ago”

and “Family matters to me so much.Where would we be without them?”

Godfrey Olson, leader of the Tory group on Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “It is dangerous to use photos like these if you are not upholding the standards you advocate. It is obviously dishonest. Dishonesty to the public is deplorable.”

Conservative election candidate, Maria Hutchings, said it was “incredibly sad for those involved”.

News of the break-up of Mr Huhne’s marriage came just a week after newly-elected Tory MP for the neighbouring Romsey constituency, Caroline Nokes, 37, hit the headlines after cheating on her husband.

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