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Lord Rennard case could make Lib Dems 'no-go zone for women' Lord Rennard case could make Lib Dems 'no-go zone for women'
(about 4 hours later)
Nick Clegg is facing a serious split in the Liberal Democrats over the party's handling of the Lord Rennard harassment allegations, with grassroots activists warning that a continued role in the party for the former chief executive will cost votes and could make it a no-go zone for women. Nick Clegg is facing a split within the Liberal Democrats over the party's handling of the Lord Rennard harassment allegations, as a senior activist broke her silence to claim she was also touched inappropriately by the former party chief.
The deputy prime minister admitted he failed to deal properly with several women's complaints, after an independent inquiry found Rennard's behaviour may have caused them distress and violated their personal space. Susan Gaszczak called on the leader to "man up" and eject Rennard from the Lib Dems after the party said there was insufficient evidence for disciplinary action following several complaints. A former candidate to be an MP, she told Channel 4, which broke the story a year ago: "Enough is enough. He should go."
However, Clegg confirmed he would not stop the peer continuing to sit in the Lords or on his party's main policymaking committee, as the investigation did not find evidence that Rennard acted in a sexually inappropriate way. Her comments came after grassroots activists warned that the former chief executive's continued roles in the party would cost it votes and risk making it a no-go zone for women.
Sources said there have been internal Lib Dem talks about whether the whip could be removed from Rennard if he failed to apologise. But Rennard's supporters include more than half of the Lib Dem parliamentary party in the Lords, and they are likely to argue against this move after an independent inquiry led by Alistair Webster QC recommended no disciplinary action. The deputy prime minister admitted that he had failed to deal properly with the complaints and called on Rennard to apologise, after an independent inquiry found the peer's behaviour may have caused the women distress and violated their personal space.
On Thursday Clegg remained under intense pressure over the issue, with Alison Smith, one of the women claiming to have been inappropriately touched by Rennard, demanding that the whip is suspended until there is an apology. But Clegg confirmed he would not stop the peer continuing to sit in the Lords or on his party's main policymaking committee, as the investigation found no evidence that Rennard acted in a sexually inappropriate way.
Clegg insists his former strategy guru will play no part in the next election campaign, but he may face a rebellion over the peer's roles at a meeting of the party's federal executive in just over a week's time. Sources said there have been internal discussions about whether the whip could be removed from Rennard if he does not apologise. But supporters of Rennard include more than half of the Lib Dem parliamentary party in the Lords, who are likely to argue against this move on the grounds that no disciplinary action was recommended by the inquiry by Alistair Webster QC.
Daisy Cooper, a member of the Lib Dem executive and prospective parliamentary candidate, said Rennard's position was untenable without an apology. "There are a large number of people who think this is a complete whitewash," she said. "I will be raising it with Nick Clegg in person in just over a week's time." Last night, Clegg remained under pressure over the issue, with Alison Smith, one of the women claiming to have been inappropriately touched by Rennard, demanding that the whip be suspended until there is an apology.
Cooper said the issue had divided the party between loyalists to Rennard, who appreciate his successful tenure as a chief executive, and many others who feel the issue has not been dealt with properly. Although Clegg has insisted that his former strategy guru would play no part in the next election campaign, he may still face a rebellion over the peer's other roles in the party at a meeting of its federal executive in just over a week's time.
Linda Jack, chairman of the Liberal Left group within the party, also described the outcome as a "completely unsatisfactory conclusion" and called on other members to raise it as every opportunity locally, regionally and nationally. Daisy Cooper, a member of the Liberal Democrat executive and prospective parliamentary candidate, said Rennard's position was untenable without an apology. "There are a large number of people who think this is a complete whitewash," she said. "The issue goes much wider, to the message that it sends about women in Westminster."
"We are already witnessing the sexist divide on Twitter, women who are outraged and men who question what all the fuss is about," she said. "Lest any holier-than-thou activists and politicians from other parties should forget – this is not just a Lib Dem issue, it is one that confronts women in all parties and in all professions. Cooper said the issue had divided the party between loyalists to Rennard, who appreciate his successful tenure as a chief executive, and many others who feel the issue has not been dealt with properly. "I will be raising it with Nick Clegg in person in just over a week's time," she said.
Linda Jack, chairman of the Liberal Left group within the party, also described the outcome as "completely unsatisfactory" and called on other members to raise it at every opportunity locally, regionally and nationally.
"We are already witnessing the sexist divide on Twitter – women who are outraged and men who question what all the fuss is about," she said. "Lest any holier-than-thou activists and politicians from other parties should forget, this is not just a Lib Dem issue, it is one that confronts women in all parties and in all professions.
"What is so depressing is that of all parties, we should have got it right. We didn't. We must. I for one will be raising it at the diversity engagement group on Thursday, I trust others will raise it at every opportunity in the party, locally, regionally and nationally. If not, I fear that many more women will be voting with their feet, not just in the party, but also in the country.""What is so depressing is that of all parties, we should have got it right. We didn't. We must. I for one will be raising it at the diversity engagement group on Thursday, I trust others will raise it at every opportunity in the party, locally, regionally and nationally. If not, I fear that many more women will be voting with their feet, not just in the party, but also in the country."
Another parliamentary candidate and activist, Charlotte Henry, said the Lib Dems "risk declaring themselves a no-go zone" for women. "You can appoint as many pastoral care officers as you want, but if you don't discipline people when credible allegations are made it doesn't hold much water," she wrote in a blog. "The Lib Dems have a lot of work to do to convince women that this is a party they can be part of." Another parliamentary candidate and activist, Charlotte Henry, said the Lib Dems risked declaring themselves a no-go zone for women. "You can appoint as many pastoral care officers as you want, but if you don't discipline people when credible allegations are made, it doesn't hold much water," she wrote in a blog. "The Lib Dems have a lot of work to do to convince women that this is a party they can be part of."
Alison Goldsworthy, one of the women who accused Rennard of inappropriate behaviour, also directed scathing criticism at Clegg, calling on him to show moral courage and give the peer an ultimatum. Alison Goldworthy, another of Rennard's accusers, also directed scathing criticism at Clegg, calling on him to show moral courage and give the peer an ultimatum.
"It is about time behaviour like this stopped going unpunished," she said. "When you describe the shifty power dynamics of the Westminster Village to outsiders it often leaves them slack jawed. In any modern office environment, that isn't stuck in the 50s, people would be out the door for repeatedly abusing their position of power in such a way. Yet in politics it continues, with just a quiet word from the whips, and yesterday's announcement from the Lib Dems sends a message that this is OK. That is quite wrong." "It is about time behaviour like this stopped going unpunished," she said. "When you describe the shifty power dynamics of the Westminster village to outsiders, it often leaves them slack-jawed.
"In any modern office environment, that isn't stuck in the 1950s, people would be out the door for repeatedly abusing their power in such a way.
"Yet in politics it continues, with just a quiet word from the whips, and yesterday's announcement from the Lib Dems sends a message that this is OK. That is quite wrong."
There is also unease within the parliamentary party, with one Lib Dem MP saying he believed Rennard should distance himself from the Lib Dems for the good of the party he has helped make a success.There is also unease within the parliamentary party, with one Lib Dem MP saying he believed Rennard should distance himself from the Lib Dems for the good of the party he has helped make a success.
However, supporters of Rennard point out that all investigations into his conduct are now at an end and no police nor disciplinary charges have been brought. However, supporters of Rennard point out that all investigations into his conduct are now at an end and no police or disciplinary charges have been brought.
Among Rennard's most prominent backers is Lord Carlile, a Lib Dem peer, who on Thursday accused Clegg of defending a form of secret justice by demanding an apology for actions there is no proof have taken place. Among Rennard's most prominent backers is Lord Carlile, a Lib Dem peer, who yesterday accused Clegg of defending a form of secret justice by demanding an apology for actions not proven to have taken place.
He said Rennard would not be apologising since he had done nothing wrong, adding he would be resuming his position on the Lib Dem policy committee. He said Rennard would not be apologising since he had done nothing wrong, and added that the peer would be resuming his position on the Lib Dem 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 that the case against Rennard did not meet either the criminal or civil standard of proof.
Evan Harris, a former Lib Dem MP and member of the federal policy committee, also said he was "quite happy" to sit with Rennard in party meetings in future.Evan Harris, a former Lib Dem MP and member of the federal policy committee, also said he was "quite happy" to sit with Rennard in party meetings in future.
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