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No action against Lib Dem Rennard over sex harassment claims No action against Lib Dem Rennard over sex harassment claims
(about 1 hour later)
The Lib Dems have said there is insufficient evidence to justify further action against peer Lord Rennard over sexual harassment claims.The Lib Dems have said there is insufficient evidence to justify further action against peer Lord Rennard over sexual harassment claims.
Following an internal inquiry into allegations made by activists, the Lib Dems concluded the evidence against the peer was "broadly credible". An independent inquiry into allegations of impropriety made by female activists concluded that the evidence against the peer was "broadly credible".
But the party concluded that there was less than a 50% chance that harassment charges could be proved. But the lawyer who led the probe found there was less than a 50% chance that harassment charges could be proved.
But Lord Rennard, who has denied the claims, has been asked to apologise. Lord Rennard, who has denied the claims, has been asked to apologise.
The Metropolitan Police has already decided not to take any action against the former Lib Dem chief executive after a number of women accused him of making unwanted sexual advances and touching them inappropriately. And party leader Nick Clegg said the former chief executive will not "be playing any part" in its 2015 general election campaign.
The Lib Dems' own inquiry concluded that there was broadly credible evidence of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants". The Metropolitan Police has already decided not to take any action against the former Lib Dem official after a number of women accused him of making unwanted sexual advances and touching them inappropriately.
But its chair QC Alistair Webster concluded it was "unlikely that it could be established beyond reasonable doubt that Lord Rennard had intended to act in an indecent or sexually inappropriate way". 'Personal space'
An inquiry launched by the Lib Dems concluded that there was broadly credible evidence dating back several years of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants".
But its chair, Alistair Webster QC, judged that it was "unlikely that it could be established beyond reasonable doubt that Lord Rennard had intended to act in an indecent or sexually inappropriate way".
"Without proof of such an intention, I do not consider that such a charge would be tenable," he stated.
If he had been found to have brought the party into disrepute, the peer faced possible expulsion from the Lib Dems.
After considering the evidence, Mr Webster said he did not believe the claims made against Lord Rennard were either "unreliable" or political motivated.
He added: "It is my view that Lord Rennard ought to reflect upon the effect that his behaviour has had and the distress which it caused and that an apology would be appropriate, as would a commitment to change his behaviour in future."
'Reflect on actions''Reflect on actions'
The Lib Dem peer said he was glad that "justice had been done" and thanked all those who had supported him since the allegations were first publicly made in Channel 4 documentary last February. The Lib Dem peer said he was glad that "justice was eventually done" and thanked all those who had supported him since two women made allegations of sexual impropriety against him in a Channel 4 documentary last February.
"I am pleased that this brings to an end all investigations concerning allegations made against me," he said."I am pleased that this brings to an end all investigations concerning allegations made against me," he said.
"My wife Ann and I are very grateful to our families and many friends both inside and outside the Liberal Democrats who have shown unwavering support throughout."My wife Ann and I are very grateful to our families and many friends both inside and outside the Liberal Democrats who have shown unwavering support throughout.
"I now look forward to resuming my roles within the Liberal Democrats.""I now look forward to resuming my roles within the Liberal Democrats."
Lib Dem President Tim Farron called on Lord Rennard to apologise to the women involved. Lord Rennard stepped down as chief executive in 2009 having, for many years, masterminded its campaigning strategies, including a host of by-election victories.
He resigned the Lib Dem whip in the Lords after the allegations surfaced last year and there have been calls for him to quit other party roles as well.
Alison Smith, one of the women to accuse Lord Rennard of misconduct in a Channel 4 documentary a year ago, tweeted that "something needs be done".
"In 2014 a major political party finds that it has no suitable procedures for dealing with allegations of serious sexual harassment."
She added: "An apology would certainly be a good start, and one from the Liberal Democrats as well."
Disciplinary procedures
Lib Dem President Tim Farron said that as the peer was no longer employed by the party, the standard of proof required for disciplinary action was much higher.
"As a party we have no choice but to accept Alistair Webster's conclusions, but that does not mean I am content," he said. "Nick Clegg and I are clear that we need to look again at our disciplinary procedures."
And Mr Farron called on Lord Rennard to "reflect on his actions".
"While this process has not found to a criminal standard of proof that Lord Rennard acted with indecent intent, it is clear that he did not behave in the way that a chief executive should behave," he said."While this process has not found to a criminal standard of proof that Lord Rennard acted with indecent intent, it is clear that he did not behave in the way that a chief executive should behave," he said.
"Lord Rennard must reflect on his actions and apologise to the women involved.""Lord Rennard must reflect on his actions and apologise to the women involved."
Mr Clegg said he respected the report's findings but it was right that Lord Rennard should apologise and the party owed an apology to all the women it had let down.
It was not satisfactory, he added, that "distress has been caused but there are no sanctions that can be taken", adding that the party's disciplinary procedures should be reformed "from top to toe".
A separate report into the party's culture and practices last year found that senior figures, including Mr Clegg, "should have asked more questions" when the allegations first arose.
It called for the party to improve how it dealt with complaints of harassment and bullying. The party recently appointed a pastoral care officer to ensure all complaints are recorded and resolved.