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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Nick Clegg: Rennard claims 'were in the background' | Nick Clegg: Rennard claims 'were in the background' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nick Clegg has admitted that concerns over Lord Rennard 's behaviour were "in the background" when he resigned as Lib Dem chief executive in 2009. | Nick Clegg has admitted that concerns over Lord Rennard 's behaviour were "in the background" when he resigned as Lib Dem chief executive in 2009. |
| Police have spoken to party officials about allegations of inappropriate towards women behaviour by the peer. | Police have spoken to party officials about allegations of inappropriate towards women behaviour by the peer. |
| Mr Clegg told LBC Radio that he had wanted a change when Lord Rennard quit but the "immediate reason" for his going was "ill health". | Mr Clegg told LBC Radio that he had wanted a change when Lord Rennard quit but the "immediate reason" for his going was "ill health". |
| Lord Rennard denies the accusations, said to involve at least 10 women. | Lord Rennard denies the accusations, said to involve at least 10 women. |
| The Lib Dems have set up two inquiries into the peer's behaviour and the party's handling of the issue. | The Lib Dems have set up two inquiries into the peer's behaviour and the party's handling of the issue. |
| 'Abandoned' | 'Abandoned' |
| Mr Clegg, who became leader in 2007, after the alleged incidents took place, said of Lord Rennard's departure: "Of course, these things were in the background but his ill health was the immediate reason why he stood down." | Mr Clegg, who became leader in 2007, after the alleged incidents took place, said of Lord Rennard's departure: "Of course, these things were in the background but his ill health was the immediate reason why he stood down." |
| Mr Clegg said his then chief-of-staff Danny Alexander had "challenged" and "confronted" Lord Rennard in 2008 over "general concerns" about his behaviour, and had said that "this is not acceptable". | |
| He added: "We were told at the time that the women didn't want to take the matter forward in relation to complaints." | |
| Mr Clegg said he had not known of specific allegations until Channel 4 News broke the story last week. | |
| One alleged victim, Susan - who wants to keep her surname private to avoid media intrusion - said on Tuesday that she had spoken to at least nine other women affected by incidents going back as far as 2001. | One alleged victim, Susan - who wants to keep her surname private to avoid media intrusion - said on Tuesday that she had spoken to at least nine other women affected by incidents going back as far as 2001. |
| She added: "He [Mr Clegg] didn't know how to deal with it and then didn't deal with it well." | She added: "He [Mr Clegg] didn't know how to deal with it and then didn't deal with it well." |
| Mr Clegg told LBC on his weekly phone-in: "It distresses me immensely that women I know - they are clearly good people whom I respect - feel abandoned." | Mr Clegg told LBC on his weekly phone-in: "It distresses me immensely that women I know - they are clearly good people whom I respect - feel abandoned." |
| He added that the Lib Dems had shown "serious failure in the way the organisation was run", but said he had "revamped the party very considerably". | He added that the Lib Dems had shown "serious failure in the way the organisation was run", but said he had "revamped the party very considerably". |
| Mr Clegg said he believed in treating everyone "with respect and dignity", adding: "That clearly did not happen here, to put it mildly. There were some serious mistakes and the women were not listened to and let down." | Mr Clegg said he believed in treating everyone "with respect and dignity", adding: "That clearly did not happen here, to put it mildly. There were some serious mistakes and the women were not listened to and let down." |
| The Metropolitan Police said it was working with party officials to establish whether any criminal activity had taken place. | The Metropolitan Police said it was working with party officials to establish whether any criminal activity had taken place. |
| After meeting the officials on Tuesday, officers appealed to "anyone with information" to come forward. | After meeting the officials on Tuesday, officers appealed to "anyone with information" to come forward. |