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| Lord Rennard denies sexual impropriety claims | Lord Rennard denies sexual impropriety claims |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Senior Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard has strongly denied allegations of sexual impropriety made against him by women who have worked for the party. | Senior Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard has strongly denied allegations of sexual impropriety made against him by women who have worked for the party. |
| He said the allegations, broadcast by Channel 4 News, were a "distortion". | |
| Lord Rennard said there had been no complaints made in his 27 years with the party, but he had temporarily stood aside from the Lib Dems in the Lords to avoid "embarrassment" to the party. | Lord Rennard said there had been no complaints made in his 27 years with the party, but he had temporarily stood aside from the Lib Dems in the Lords to avoid "embarrassment" to the party. |
| The party has launched a review of how it handles allegations of harassment. | The party has launched a review of how it handles allegations of harassment. |
| 'Total distortion' | 'Total distortion' |
| Channel 4 News aired allegations by a number of women of sexual impropriety over several years by Lord Rennard, the party's former chief executive, | Channel 4 News aired allegations by a number of women of sexual impropriety over several years by Lord Rennard, the party's former chief executive, |
| The women told the news programme he abused his position for years by inappropriately touching and propositioning them. | The women told the news programme he abused his position for years by inappropriately touching and propositioning them. |
| A statement issued on behalf of Lord Rennard, who has been overseeing elections in Armenia, said: "Lord Rennard is deeply shocked by and strongly disputes the allegations made against him in the Channel 4 News broadcast on 21 February. He regards the report as a total distortion of his character. | |
| "Not a single complaint of misconduct was made against him to his knowledge during the 27 years he worked for the Liberal Democrat party. Despite the claim made by one woman in the report, Lord Rennard continued working closely with her for 10 years after the alleged event described." | "Not a single complaint of misconduct was made against him to his knowledge during the 27 years he worked for the Liberal Democrat party. Despite the claim made by one woman in the report, Lord Rennard continued working closely with her for 10 years after the alleged event described." |
| The statement said he would "stand aside" from the Lib Dem group in the House of Lords "to seek to avoid any embarrassment to the party" and withdraw from the Liberal Democrats' federal policy committee, which is responsible for producing policies to be debated at the party conference. | |
| "He will remain a member of the Liberal Democrats and will continue to devote himself to good causes through his work in the House of Lords and elsewhere," the statement said. | "He will remain a member of the Liberal Democrats and will continue to devote himself to good causes through his work in the House of Lords and elsewhere," the statement said. |
| It added that he would make no further comment "until these matters are resolved". | It added that he would make no further comment "until these matters are resolved". |
| Immediate review | Immediate review |
| The Channel 4 report alleged that some of the women had reported the allegations to figures in the party but it was not taken any further or their claims were not taken seriously. | The Channel 4 report alleged that some of the women had reported the allegations to figures in the party but it was not taken any further or their claims were not taken seriously. |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has asked party president Tim Farron to conduct an immediate review into the party's procedures for dealing with allegations of harassment, including an examination of how allegations made in the past have been handled. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has asked party president Tim Farron to conduct an immediate review into the party's procedures for dealing with allegations of harassment, including an examination of how allegations made in the past have been handled. |
| A spokesman for Mr Clegg said: "The first he knew of the allegations in the report was after the party was contacted by Channel 4." | A spokesman for Mr Clegg said: "The first he knew of the allegations in the report was after the party was contacted by Channel 4." |
| A Lib Dem statement later said the newly-formed review group had already had its first meeting. | A Lib Dem statement later said the newly-formed review group had already had its first meeting. |
| An internal investigation into the specific allegations raised by Channel 4 News has also begun under the party's disciplinary procedures, it said. | An internal investigation into the specific allegations raised by Channel 4 News has also begun under the party's disciplinary procedures, it said. |
| "There are a number of questions that have been raised and our reviews will ensure we properly address all of them," the party said. | "There are a number of questions that have been raised and our reviews will ensure we properly address all of them," the party said. |
| "We will not tolerate harassment in our party and we urge anyone to contact the chief executive or use our confidential whistle-blower procedure if they have issues they wish to raise as a result of Channel 4's report." | "We will not tolerate harassment in our party and we urge anyone to contact the chief executive or use our confidential whistle-blower procedure if they have issues they wish to raise as a result of Channel 4's report." |