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Lord Rennard accused of bringing Lib Dems into 'disrepute' Lord Rennard accused of bringing Lib Dems into 'disrepute'
(about 1 hour later)
Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard is bringing his party into disrepute by refusing to apologise over claims of sexual harassment, a former special adviser to party leader Nick Clegg has said.Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard is bringing his party into disrepute by refusing to apologise over claims of sexual harassment, a former special adviser to party leader Nick Clegg has said.
Bridget Harris, one of four party activists who made the allegations, which he denies, said an internal inquiry concluded he should apologise.Bridget Harris, one of four party activists who made the allegations, which he denies, said an internal inquiry concluded he should apologise.
But his legal adviser, Lord Carlile, said that would be "quite wrong".But his legal adviser, Lord Carlile, said that would be "quite wrong".
"There has been found to be no case against Lord Rennard," he said."There has been found to be no case against Lord Rennard," he said.
The peer resigned the party whip last year amid claims he had made unwanted sexual advances to several women and touched them inappropriately. The peer resigned the party whip last year amid claims he made unwanted sexual advances to several women and touched them inappropriately.
An internal inquiry into the claims last week concluded there was broadly credible evidence dating back several years of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants".An internal inquiry into the claims last week concluded there was broadly credible evidence dating back several years of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants".
'Absolute mess''Absolute mess'
But it concluded that allegations of sexual misconduct could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, as the party's internal disciplinary procedures required. But it said the allegations could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, as the party's internal disciplinary procedures required.
Mr Clegg has said the whip should not be restored to Lord Rennard until he apologises. However, party rules dictate that it is for peers to decide whether to welcome him back and he is reportedly due to have the whip restored on Monday. Mr Clegg has said the whip should not be restored to Lord Rennard until he apologises. However, party rules dictate that it is for peers to decide whether to welcome him back.
Ms Harris, who has quit the party, told the BBC: "The QC who reviewed the evidence extensively over the last couple of months actually concluded that he thought that the evidence we put forward was credible.Ms Harris, who has quit the party, told the BBC: "The QC who reviewed the evidence extensively over the last couple of months actually concluded that he thought that the evidence we put forward was credible.
"It clearly did show that Lord Rennard had caused myself and the other women distress and that we were owed at the very least an apology."It clearly did show that Lord Rennard had caused myself and the other women distress and that we were owed at the very least an apology.
"The question is, has Lord Rennard brought the party into disrepute?"The question is, has Lord Rennard brought the party into disrepute?
"I think that everybody accepts that the Lib Dems are in an absolute mess about this and whatever the accepted definition of disrepute is, I think that we've achieved it.""I think that everybody accepts that the Lib Dems are in an absolute mess about this and whatever the accepted definition of disrepute is, I think that we've achieved it."
Meanwhile, Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour on Sunday night that the episode had become "like the Salem witch trials". Susan Gaszczak, one of the women who made the original allegations, said she would consider resigning if the whip was restored.
"A good man has been publicly destroyed through the media", he said, adding: "It is completely out of proportion, nonsense and outrageous". "I think that will make my position as a member of the Liberal Democrats quite untenable," she told the BBC News Channel.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies said the episode had become "like the Salem witch trials".
"A good man has been publicly destroyed through the media", he told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour, adding: "It is completely out of proportion, nonsense and outrageous".
'Completely arbitrary''Completely arbitrary'
Party officials are reportedly considering a new disciplinary process over disrepute claims from within the party, with Lord Rennard facing suspension again until it is complete. Party officials are considering a new disciplinary process over disrepute claims from within the party, with Lord Rennard facing suspension again until it is complete.
Senior Lib Dem MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander confirmed: "Party HQ has had a lot of complaints from party members about the fact that no apology has been made." Senior Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander said the party's headquarters had "had a lot of complaints from party members about the fact that no apology has been made".
This was a "very serious matter", and the "appropriate committee" would need to decide what course of action to take as a result, he added, in an interview with the BBC's Sunday Politics programme. This was a "very serious matter", and the "appropriate committee" would need to decide what course of action to take as a result, told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme.
He said an apology from Lord Rennard was "necessary" and it was "totally unacceptable" for that not to happen.
Alistair Webster QC, who led the original internal inquiry, said: "I viewed Lord Rennard, from the weight of the evidence submitted, as being someone who would wish to apologise to those whom he had made to feel uncomfortable, even if he had done so inadvertently."Alistair Webster QC, who led the original internal inquiry, said: "I viewed Lord Rennard, from the weight of the evidence submitted, as being someone who would wish to apologise to those whom he had made to feel uncomfortable, even if he had done so inadvertently."
He said: "I would consider it to be common manners. Similarly, given the evidence, I would expect that Lord Rennard would wish (as I would wish, in a similar position), to reflect upon that which appears to have caused distress. I cannot see either suggestion as contentious."
'Totally unacceptable'
But Lord Carlile told Sky news: "I think it would be quite wrong for Lord Rennard to apologise."But Lord Carlile told Sky news: "I think it would be quite wrong for Lord Rennard to apologise."
"Here we have a situation in which there has been found to be no case against Lord Rennard but he's being lined up against the wall by people who are trying to force him to apologise in a way no lawyer would advise." he said."Here we have a situation in which there has been found to be no case against Lord Rennard but he's being lined up against the wall by people who are trying to force him to apologise in a way no lawyer would advise." he said.
"I was present when Lord Rennard told the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the Lords, Lord Newby, that he was returning to the whip, I was present when it was accepted, they shook hands and that was understood.
"Three or four days later, we have a press release from the leader of the party suggesting some kind of completely arbitrary procedure, which the party's rules don't provide for and which indeed no human resources department in any office up and down the country would regard as anything other than inappropriate and totally arbitrary.
"Nick Clegg should have kept an entirely neutral position in this matter, from beginning to end."
The peer warned that Lord Rennard would consider taking legal action against the party if the whip was not reinstated on Monday.The peer warned that Lord Rennard would consider taking legal action against the party if the whip was not reinstated on Monday.
Mr Alexander concluded: "It is necessary for Chris Rennard to apologise, as he has been asked to do, and totally unacceptable if he doesn't make that step.
"On the one hand they say the report has cleared him; on the other hand he shouldn't do what the report says. He can't have it both ways."
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Clegg was facing the prospect of further division in the run-up to his party's spring conference and difficult European elections.
The party leader has already said Lord Rennard will not have any role in the party's 2015 election campaign.