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Lib Dems accused of 'terrible form of secret justice' over Lord Rennard Lib Dems accused of 'terrible form of secret justice' over Lord Rennard
(about 2 hours later)
The lawyer who represented Lord Rennard has accused Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, of defending a form of secret justice by demanding the peer apologise for actions for which there was no proof he had committed.The lawyer who represented Lord Rennard has accused Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, of defending a form of secret justice by demanding the peer apologise for actions for which there was no proof he had committed.
Lord Carlile, the Liberal Democrat peer and QC, accused the Liberal Democrats of a "terrible example of secret justice" and said it was astonishing that neither he or Lord Rennard had been allowed to see the report on Rennard's behaviour provided by Alistair Webster QC, the lawyer asked by the party to investigate claims of sexual harassment by the party's former chief executive. Lord Carlile, the Liberal Democrat peer and QC, accused the Lib Dems of a "terrible example of secret justice" and said it was astonishing that neither he nor Rennard had been allowed to see the report on Rennard's behaviour provided by Alistair Webster QC, the lawyer asked by the party to investigate claims of sexual harassment by its former chief executive.
An internal inquiry said Rennard ought to apologise and commit to changing his behaviour, which may have caused "distress" to at least 10 women by violating their personal space. However, it found there was not sufficient evidence that he had acted in a sexually inappropriate way to bring any disciplinary charges.An internal inquiry said Rennard ought to apologise and commit to changing his behaviour, which may have caused "distress" to at least 10 women by violating their personal space. However, it found there was not sufficient evidence that he had acted in a sexually inappropriate way to bring any disciplinary charges.
Liberal Democrat women who accused Rennard of sexual harassment have criticised their party for not taking disciplinary action against the former chief executive and allowing him to return to his job of helping to write Clegg's 2015 election manifesto. Lib Dem female members who accused Rennard of sexual harassment have criticised their party for not taking disciplinary action against the former chief executive and allowing him to return to his job of helping to write Clegg's 2015 election manifesto.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Carlile claimed Rennard would not be apologising since he had done nothing wrong, adding he would be resuming his position on the Liberal Democrat federal executive. Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Carlile claimed Rennard would not be apologising since he had done nothing wrong, adding he would be resuming his position on the Lib Dem federal policy committee.
He also insisted that Webster had told him and Rennard directly on the phone that the case against Rennard did not meet either the criminal or civil standard of proof.He also insisted that Webster had told him and Rennard directly on the phone that the case against Rennard did not meet either the criminal or civil standard of proof.
He added the statements against Rennard were false and had been refuted by those present or close to the alleged events. The party he said needed to recalibrate its approach, saying it had been no kind of justice. He said it was astonishing that Liberal Democrat officials were asserting "there is no case to answer but you should not have done it". He added the statements against Rennard were false and had been refuted by those present or close to the alleged events. The party, he said, needed to recalibrate its approach, as it had been no kind of justice. He said it was astonishing that Lib Dem officials were asserting "there is no case to answer but you should not have done it".
He said the party needed apply the same standard of justice for its members as it would for its constituents. He said the party should apply the same standard of justice for its members as it would for its constituents.
Two of the women who complained about Rennard expressed their disappointment on Wednesday. Alison Goldsworthy, a Welsh activist who spoke out on Channel 4 News last year, accused the party of cowardice and said she was taking legal advice.Two of the women who complained about Rennard expressed their disappointment on Wednesday. Alison Goldsworthy, a Welsh activist who spoke out on Channel 4 News last year, accused the party of cowardice and said she was taking legal advice.
"They have failed to say Lord Rennard's behaviour is unacceptable, they have failed to discipline him and therefore have failed to give victims the justice they deserve," she said."They have failed to say Lord Rennard's behaviour is unacceptable, they have failed to discipline him and therefore have failed to give victims the justice they deserve," she said.
"Since this news became public, people from across the political spectrum have approached me to say they too had been a victim of someone abusing a position of power. Today's verdict, and failure to take action, sends the message that this behaviour can go unpunished."Since this news became public, people from across the political spectrum have approached me to say they too had been a victim of someone abusing a position of power. Today's verdict, and failure to take action, sends the message that this behaviour can go unpunished.
"Now more than ever, the political parties must match their rhetoric with action. Women should not be afraid to speak up, and good men should not be afraid to support them. I stand by my previous statement and am taking legal advice.""Now more than ever, the political parties must match their rhetoric with action. Women should not be afraid to speak up, and good men should not be afraid to support them. I stand by my previous statement and am taking legal advice."
Alison Smith, now an Oxford University politics tutor, who also complained about his behaviour, said Rennard should "absolutely not" return to the federal policy committee and the party needed "new procedures, and fast".Alison Smith, now an Oxford University politics tutor, who also complained about his behaviour, said Rennard should "absolutely not" return to the federal policy committee and the party needed "new procedures, and fast".
She said: "The Liberal Democrats have much soul-searching to do. They orchestrated a cover-up for many years to avoid dealing with the serious and numerous allegations against Lord Rennard."She said: "The Liberal Democrats have much soul-searching to do. They orchestrated a cover-up for many years to avoid dealing with the serious and numerous allegations against Lord Rennard."
Last night two other women who accused Lord Rennard of sexual impropriety were furious at the decision of the Liberal Democrats not to discipline him. Last night two other women who accused Rennard of sexual impropriety were furious at the party's decision not to discipline him.
Bridget Harris said she would tear up her Liberal Democrat membership card. Bridget Harris said she would tear up her Lib Dem membership card.
She told Channel 4 News: "They know what happened, we know we're not lying, and so we've ended up with a situation where the party has said it is acceptable for somebody like Lord Rennard to have done the things that we are claiming that he has done. It's acceptable to still have him as a member of the party.She told Channel 4 News: "They know what happened, we know we're not lying, and so we've ended up with a situation where the party has said it is acceptable for somebody like Lord Rennard to have done the things that we are claiming that he has done. It's acceptable to still have him as a member of the party.
"For me that's not good enough. And it's not good enough for me to carry on being a member of that party.""For me that's not good enough. And it's not good enough for me to carry on being a member of that party."
Goldsworthy said Clegg and Farron "could have been a lot stronger and faced with the option of taking a difficult decision and pushing it forward to disciplinary action, or not doing anything, they took the cowards way out and chose not to do anything". Goldsworthy said Clegg and Farron "could have been a lot stronger and faced with the option of taking a difficult decision and pushing it forward to disciplinary action, or not doing anything, they took the coward's way out and chose not to do anything".
Harris later said the deputy prime minister had apologised to her and he was "flabbergasted" by the situation. She told BBC2's Newsnight: "I spoke to Nick earlier on this evening personally, he called me and apologised and I take that completely sincerely.Harris later said the deputy prime minister had apologised to her and he was "flabbergasted" by the situation. She told BBC2's Newsnight: "I spoke to Nick earlier on this evening personally, he called me and apologised and I take that completely sincerely.
"He apologised for the fact that the party has found itself in a situation where its rules have been found to be completely over the top and Byzantine and inadequate to deal with the kind of complaints that myself and the other women have had about Lord Rennard." "He apologised for the fact that the party has found itself in a situation where its rules have been found to be completely over the top and byzantine and inadequate to deal with the kind of complaints that myself and the other women have had about Lord Rennard.
She added: "I heard Tim Farron speak earlier and Nick Clegg said this to me as well, they are flabbergasted that essentially we are in a situation where a man … where the allegations and the evidence have now been thoroughly tested and have actually been found to be credible, so nobody is suggesting that they think we are lying." "I heard Tim Farron speak earlier and Nick Clegg said this to me as well, they are flabbergasted that essentially we are in a situation where a man … where the allegations and the evidence have now been thoroughly tested and have actually been found to be credible, so nobody is suggesting that they think we are lying."
Clegg called on Rennard to apologise and "reflect on his behaviour". He also insisted the peer would not be playing any campaigning role in the run-up to the general election. Clegg called on Rennard to apologise and "reflect on his behaviour". He also insisted the peer would not play any campaigning role in the runup to the general election.
"It's clear in the report that a number of women in the Liberal Democrats were subject to behaviour by someone who had a position of considerable authority that caused them real distress," Clegg said. "That should not have happened. And I as leader of the Liberal Democrats want to apologise to each and every one of those women again." "It's clear in the report that a number of women in the Liberal Democrats were subject to behaviour by someone who had a position of considerable authority that caused them real distress," Clegg said. "That should not have happened. And I, as leader of the Liberal Democrats, want to apologise to each and every one of those women again."
However, comments issued by Rennard made no mention of any apology to the women and emphasised that this was now the end of all investigations into allegations about his behaviour, as the police dropped their inquiries last year.However, comments issued by Rennard made no mention of any apology to the women and emphasised that this was now the end of all investigations into allegations about his behaviour, as the police dropped their inquiries last year.
"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," 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," he said.
"I now look forward to resuming my roles within the Liberal Democrats. I remain committed to the same values which made me join the Liberal Party as a teenager more than 40 years ago." "I now look forward to resuming my roles within the Liberal Democrats. I remain committed to the same values which made me join the Liberal party as a teenager more than 40 years ago."
The investigation carried out by Webster found it was not appropriate to charge Rennard with acting in a way that had brought the party into disrepute, which could have led to his expulsion expelled from the party. The investigation carried out by Webster found it was not appropriate to charge Rennard with acting in a way that had brought the party into disrepute, which could have led to him being expelled from the party.
"In my opinion, the evidence of behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants was broadly credible," Webster said in a statement. "In my opinion, the evidence of behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants was broadly credible," Webster said.
"However, it is my judgment, considering all of the evidence collected, that it is 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." "However, it is my judgment, considering all of the evidence collected, that it is 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 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." "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."
The lawyer stressed that he was not finding that the evidence of the complainants was unreliable, and said the evidence suggested Rennard's behaviour had caused distress to a number of women. The lawyer stressed that he was not finding the evidence of the complainants was unreliable.
He also discounted suggestions made during the investigation that the incidents had been invented as part of a political campaign against Rennard. Farron said the Liberal Democrats would look again at its disciplinary procedures and said the party believed that Rennard did not behave in an appropriate way for a chief executive. He also discounted suggestions that the incidents had been invented as part of a political campaign against Rennard. Farron said the Lib Dems would look again at its disciplinary procedures and said the party believed Rennard had not behaved in an appropriate way for a chief executive.
"The Liberal Democrats have taken the allegations made against Lord Rennard extremely seriously, which is why we appointed an eminent and experienced QC to examine the evidence. "The Liberal Democrats have taken the allegations made against Lord Rennard extremely seriously, which is why we appointed an eminent and experienced QC to examine the evidence," he said.
"As a party we have no choice but to accept Alistair Webster QC's conclusions, but that does not mean I am content," he said. "Lord Rennard is not a current employee of the party and therefore the threshold that must be met for disciplinary action is higher than if this was a company HR procedure. In Alistair Webster QC's view, that threshold was unlikely to be met. "As a party we have no choice but to accept Alistair Webster QC's conclusions, but that does not mean I am content. Lord Rennard is not a current employee of the party and therefore the threshold that must be met for disciplinary action is higher than if this was a company HR procedure. In Alistair Webster QC's view, that threshold was unlikely to be met.
"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. Lord Rennard must reflect on his actions and apologise to the women involved.""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. Lord Rennard must reflect on his actions and apologise to the women involved."
Farron added: "These allegations prompted the party to take a long, hard look in the mirror. The Liberal Democrats are, and must always be, a party where everyone is treated with respect."Farron added: "These allegations prompted the party to take a long, hard look in the mirror. The Liberal Democrats are, and must always be, a party where everyone is treated with respect."
He said the Liberal Democrats had changed a lot of things about the party, including appointing a pastoral care officer, and reviewing complaint procedures, after an "extremely uncomfortable" year. He said the Lib Dems had made many changes, including appointing a pastoral care officer, and were reviewing complaint procedures after an "extremely uncomfortable" year.
"I am determined that as we continually review and improve our culture and processes we make sure that we reach the gold standard of how to protect volunteers and staff at every level of the party from harassment and inappropriate behaviour and ensure swift and just censure to those who behave in that way," he said."I am determined that as we continually review and improve our culture and processes we make sure that we reach the gold standard of how to protect volunteers and staff at every level of the party from harassment and inappropriate behaviour and ensure swift and just censure to those who behave in that way," he said.
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