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Nick Clegg: I knew of concerns in 2008 about the conduct of Chris Rennard | Nick Clegg: I knew of concerns in 2008 about the conduct of Chris Rennard |
(7 months later) | |
The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, has admitted that he knew of "indirect and non-specific" concerns in 2008 about the conduct of the Lib Dem party's then chief executive, and "acted to deal with them". | The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, has admitted that he knew of "indirect and non-specific" concerns in 2008 about the conduct of the Lib Dem party's then chief executive, and "acted to deal with them". |
"My chief of staff at the time, Danny Alexander, put these concerns to Chris Rennard and warned him that any such behaviour was wholly unacceptable," Clegg said in a statement. | "My chief of staff at the time, Danny Alexander, put these concerns to Chris Rennard and warned him that any such behaviour was wholly unacceptable," Clegg said in a statement. |
"Chris Rennard categorically denied that he had behaved inappropriately and he continues to do so. He subsequently resigned as chief executive on health grounds. | "Chris Rennard categorically denied that he had behaved inappropriately and he continues to do so. He subsequently resigned as chief executive on health grounds. |
"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." | "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." |
Lord Rennard – a key party strategist and adviser to a succession of Lib Dem leaders before standing down due to ill health in 2009 – has said he is "deeply shocked" by the allegations, which he "strongly disputes" and regards as a "total distortion" of his character.The Liberal Democrat leader said the allegations made on Channel 4 News last Thursday had been "extremely serious and distressing to the women involved". | Lord Rennard – a key party strategist and adviser to a succession of Lib Dem leaders before standing down due to ill health in 2009 – has said he is "deeply shocked" by the allegations, which he "strongly disputes" and regards as a "total distortion" of his character.The Liberal Democrat leader said the allegations made on Channel 4 News last Thursday had been "extremely serious and distressing to the women involved". |
"It is critical they are investigated thoroughly and dealt with properly and they will be," he insisted. | "It is critical they are investigated thoroughly and dealt with properly and they will be," he insisted. |
"But I would like to make one thing crystal clear. I did not know about these allegations until Channel 4 informed the party of them shortly before they were broadcast. | "But I would like to make one thing crystal clear. I did not know about these allegations until Channel 4 informed the party of them shortly before they were broadcast. |
"I have today spoken to one of the women in the broadcast whom I respect and admire and who confirmed that she had never raised the issue with me. | "I have today spoken to one of the women in the broadcast whom I respect and admire and who confirmed that she had never raised the issue with me. |
"I am angry and outraged at the suggestion that I would not have acted if these allegations had been put to me. | "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." | "Indeed, when indirect and non-specific concerns about Chris Rennard's conduct reached my office in 2008, we acted to deal with them." |
Clegg said there were "legitimate concerns that issues raised with the party were not handled as well as they should have been". | Clegg said there were "legitimate concerns that issues raised with the party were not handled as well as they should have been". |
He said an independently chaired review would be held into Lib Dem procedures and how they were applied at the time. | He said an independently chaired review would be held into Lib Dem procedures and how they were applied at the time. |
A separate investigation will be carried out into Lord Rennard under the party's disciplinary process. | A separate investigation will be carried out into Lord Rennard under the party's disciplinary process. |
"I am absolutely determined that both these investigations will be carried out thoroughly and comprehensively," he went on. | "I am absolutely determined that both these investigations will be carried out thoroughly and comprehensively," he went on. |
"These investigations may well reveal flawed procedures, and clearly the women concerned feel they were not properly listened to. But I totally reject the insidious suggestion that my office or I are responsible in any way for a deliberate cover-up. | "These investigations may well reveal flawed procedures, and clearly the women concerned feel they were not properly listened to. But I totally reject the insidious suggestion that my office or I are responsible in any way for a deliberate cover-up. |
"The full truth of what happened and what failed to happen and who said what to whom will be revealed by these investigations. | "The full truth of what happened and what failed to happen and who said what to whom will be revealed by these investigations. |
"But in the meantime, I will not stand by and allow my party to be subject to a show trial of innuendo, half-truths and slurs. | "But in the meantime, I will not stand by and allow my party to be subject to a show trial of innuendo, half-truths and slurs. |
"The important thing is that we respect the women who have come forward and do everything to get to the truth. That is what will now happen." | "The important thing is that we respect the women who have come forward and do everything to get to the truth. That is what will now happen." |
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