Charged:Chris Huhne quits cabinet over speeding points charge
Chris Huhne has quit as energy secretary after learning he was to be charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case.
His now ex-wife Vicky Pryce will face the same charge in relation to claims she accepted his penalty points.
Mr Huhne, Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh, said he was innocent but would stand down to "avoid distraction".
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says there will be an urgent cabinet reshuffle, limited to the Lib Dems.
Business Minister Ed Davey is expected to come into the cabinet to replace Mr Huhne, with Nick Clegg's chief aide Norman Lamb filling behind him.
The BBC understands David Laws may replace Mr Lamb - Mr Laws resigned as chief secretary to the Treasury just days after the coalition was formed in 2010 over his expenses.
Essex Police have been investigating the speeding points claims for eight months.
In a press conference, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded there was "sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against both Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce for perverting the course of justice".
"The essence of the charges is that between March and May 2003, Mr Huhne, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted that she was the driver," he said.
Mr Starmer said summonses had been obtained against both Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce from Westminster Magistrates' Court and would now be served upon them.
They are due to appear in court on 16 February.
Shortly after Mr Starmer's announcement, Mr Huhne made a short statement outside his London flat.
"The Crown Prosecution Service's decision today is deeply regrettable," he said.
"I am innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts and I am confident that a jury will agree.
"To avoid distraction to either my official duties or my trial defence I am standing down and resigning as energy and climate change secretary. I will of course continue to serve my constituents in Eastleigh."
In a letter to David Cameron, tendering his resignation, Mr Huhne said it had been "an honour to negotiate and then serve in the first coalition government of modern times".
In reply, the prime minister told Mr Huhne he had made "a very significant contribution to the government of which you can be justly proud".
"Like the deputy prime minister, I am sorry to see you leave the government under these circumstances and wish you well for the future," Mr Cameron added.
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg told Mr Huhne he was "immensely grateful for the huge contribution" he had made to the coalition.
"I fully understand your decision to stand down from government in order to clear your name but I hope you will be able to do so rapidly so that you can return to play a key role in government as soon as possible," the deputy prime minister wrote.
Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce divorced in 2011.
In a statement, Ms Pryce, an economist, said: "As the CPS have decided to prosecute it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage. Obviously I hope for a quick resolution of the case.
"In the meantime I will be taking a little time off over the next few days to be with my family."
A former journalist who has also worked in the City, Mr Huhne twice stood for the Lib Dem leadership after entering Parliament in 2005.
He was one of five Lib Dem ministers in the coalition cabinet, in charge of issues such as energy market regulation and nuclear policy.
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