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Clegg to admit knowledge of Rennard 'concerns' Nick Clegg knew of Lord Rennard 'concerns' in 2008
(35 minutes later)
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to admit knowing of general concerns about the party's former chief executive, Lord Rennard. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says he was made aware of "indirect and non-specific concerns" about the party's then chief executive in 2008.
The BBC understands the deputy PM will outline later the action taken, but say he had not known about specific sexual misconduct claims. But the deputy PM said he had not known until last week about claims of alleged inappropriate behaviour by Lord Rennard made by a number of women.
Last week Channel 4 News aired claims of impropriety toward women by the peer, which he denies. Channel 4 News aired claims of impropriety toward women by the peer, which he denies.
Some reports since have questioned if Mr Clegg knew of the claims years ago.Some reports since have questioned if Mr Clegg knew of the claims years ago.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr Clegg said: "I am angry and outraged at the suggestion that I would not have acted if these allegations had been put to me.
"Indeed, when indirect and non-specific concerns about Chris Rennard's conduct reached my office in 2008, we acted to deal with them."
Mr Clegg said the "concerns" were put to Lord Rennard and he was "warned" that any such behaviour was wholly unacceptable.
He said: "Chris Rennard categorically denied that he had behaved inappropriately and he continues to do so."
Mr Clegg added: "As my office only received concerns indirectly and anonymously, as those involved understandably wanted to maintain their privacy, there was a limit to how we could take this matter forward following Chris Rennard's resignation."
He said the Channel 4 broadcast showed that there are "legitimate concerns that issues raised with the party were not handled as well as they should have been" and an internal party review would examine this.
The Mail on Sunday reported that one of the women who came forward to Channel 4 News had discussed the allegations with a friend on Facebook in January 2009.The Mail on Sunday reported that one of the women who came forward to Channel 4 News had discussed the allegations with a friend on Facebook in January 2009.
"I just don't know how nick can know and not do anything.. :-( makes me very sad," she wrote, according to the paper."I just don't know how nick can know and not do anything.. :-( makes me very sad," she wrote, according to the paper.
However, Business Secretary Vince Cable said he and Mr Clegg had "absolutely not" known about the claims.However, Business Secretary Vince Cable said he and Mr Clegg had "absolutely not" known about the claims.
"But they are serious, and we take them very seriously," he said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show."But they are serious, and we take them very seriously," he said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
Mr Cable added: "It's obviously wrong if there are women there who have made complaints and felt they weren't dealt with properly, so we are now setting up a proper investigative process - we want an independent element to that - and we'll get to the bottom of it."Mr Cable added: "It's obviously wrong if there are women there who have made complaints and felt they weren't dealt with properly, so we are now setting up a proper investigative process - we want an independent element to that - and we'll get to the bottom of it."
Ahead of a statement due from Mr Clegg on Sunday evening, BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "I think privately he feels that this controversy isn't so much about Lord Rennard, there's an attempt to undermine him and his party leadership. Ahead of Mr Clegg's statement, BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "I think privately he feels that this controversy isn't so much about Lord Rennard, there's an attempt to undermine him and his party leadership.
"Lib Dems themselves would admit that, in the run-up to a crucial by-election, these allegations haven't come at a good time.""Lib Dems themselves would admit that, in the run-up to a crucial by-election, these allegations haven't come at a good time."
The Lib Dems have launched an internal investigation into the allegations against Lord Rennard, under the party's disciplinary procedures.The Lib Dems have launched an internal investigation into the allegations against Lord Rennard, under the party's disciplinary procedures.
Party president Tim Farron is also reviewing the way the party has dealt with allegations of this sort in the past.Party president Tim Farron is also reviewing the way the party has dealt with allegations of this sort in the past.
'Total distortion''Total distortion'
On Thursday, Channel 4 News broadcast allegations by two women of sexual impropriety by Lord Rennard in incidents spanning several years.On Thursday, Channel 4 News broadcast allegations by two women of sexual impropriety by Lord Rennard in incidents spanning several years.
The women told the news programme he had abused his position by inappropriately touching and propositioning them.The women told the news programme he had abused his position by inappropriately touching and propositioning them.
One of the women said she had spoken to two senior party figures about her claims, but said no action had been taken. Allegations from more women were broadcast on Friday.One of the women said she had spoken to two senior party figures about her claims, but said no action had been taken. Allegations from more women were broadcast on Friday.
"Gradually his hand started to rub the outside of my leg," one of the women - a very active member of the Lib Dems - told Channel 4."Gradually his hand started to rub the outside of my leg," one of the women - a very active member of the Lib Dems - told Channel 4.
"I thought at first he'd just brushed against me. Then I moved away and it happened again. And he moved closer - and I moved away again. And he moved closer, and he just kept brushing parts of me that I didn't want to be brushed.""I thought at first he'd just brushed against me. Then I moved away and it happened again. And he moved closer - and I moved away again. And he moved closer, and he just kept brushing parts of me that I didn't want to be brushed."
Mr Clegg's former parliamentary aide, Jo Swinson, and now equalities minister, has said she "took action" after some women had confided in her, but she has not specified what form that action took.Mr Clegg's former parliamentary aide, Jo Swinson, and now equalities minister, has said she "took action" after some women had confided in her, but she has not specified what form that action took.
Lord Rennard, chief executive from 2003 to 2009, and a key strategist and adviser to a succession of party leaders, said he was "deeply shocked" about the allegations and said they were a "total distortion" of his character.Lord Rennard, chief executive from 2003 to 2009, and a key strategist and adviser to a succession of party leaders, said he was "deeply shocked" about the allegations and said they were a "total distortion" of his character.
The peer said he knew of no complaints against him in his 27 years working for the party, but he has temporarily stood aside from the Lib Dems' group in the Lords to avoid "embarrassment" to the party.The peer said he knew of no complaints against him in his 27 years working for the party, but he has temporarily stood aside from the Lib Dems' group in the Lords to avoid "embarrassment" to the party.