▁contrary ▁to ▁common ▁law . ▁ ▁Hu h ne ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Cab inet ▁minister ▁in ▁British ▁history ▁to ▁res ign ▁as ▁a ▁consequence ▁of ▁criminal ▁proceed ings . ▁On ▁ 4 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁Hu h ne ▁was ▁conv icted ▁on ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁his ▁own ▁ple a ▁after ▁re - ar ra ignment . ▁The ▁trial ▁of ▁P ry ce ▁began ▁on ▁the ▁following ▁day , ▁last ing ▁until ▁ 2 0 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁when ▁the ▁j ury ▁were ▁dis charg ed ▁by ▁the ▁judge . ▁A ▁re - tri al ▁began ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁and ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁conv iction ▁of ▁P ry ce ▁on ▁ 7 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁ ▁Background ▁ ▁Hu h ne ▁had ▁been ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Dem ocrat ▁MP ▁for ▁East le igh ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁On ▁ 1 2 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁cabinet ▁office ▁of ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁for ▁Energy ▁and ▁Cl imate ▁Change ▁under ▁the ▁Conserv ative - L iber al ▁Dem ocrat ▁coal ition ▁formed ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁general ▁election . ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁Hu h ne ▁announced ▁that ▁he ▁was ▁leaving ▁his ▁wife ▁of ▁ 2 6 ▁years ▁after ▁he ▁confirmed ▁that ▁he ▁had ▁been ▁having ▁a ▁long - term ▁affair ▁with ▁a ▁media ▁advis er . ▁The ▁couple ▁divor ced ▁in