Jonathan Aitken the sinner has wise words for Chris Huhne on remorse

 
12 November 2013

Jonathan Aitken has criticised ex-Energy Secretary Chris Huhne for not being repentant enough about his crimes. “I personally believe a crucial ingredient in rehabilitation is to admit that you yourself completely screwed up, it was your fault and you’re now trying to find new outlets for your abilities,” says Aitken.

“Chris Huhne seems not to admit there was any wrongdoing in this first place. He does seem to be to some extent in denial and it’s more difficult to get rehabilitation satisfactorily within your own soul, quite apart from what the outside world thinks if you’re in denial about the crime and your responsibility for it.

“If I saw Huhne, I’d say to him, ‘Be careful not to sound as if you just think the prison sentence and the crime was an irrelevant minor pinprick, don’t be in denial.’ It’s so much a question of tone. As I read one or two of his articles in the Guardian, I feel a note of regret and repentance and remorse should be in there and it doesn’t seem to be.”

Aitken was speaking to Bobby Friedman and Rupert Myers on Political Takeout, the Independent’s new political podcast.

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