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| Lord Rennard to return to Lords despite Nick Clegg ultimatum: ‘No apology, no whip’ | Lord Rennard to return to Lords despite Nick Clegg ultimatum: ‘No apology, no whip’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard is set to return to the House of Lords today, despite being issued with an ultimatum from leader Nick Clegg of: “No apology, no whip”. | The Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard is set to return to the House of Lords today, despite being issued with an ultimatum from leader Nick Clegg of: “No apology, no whip”. |
| The pair have been embroiled in a row over whether the party’s former chief executive should apologise to a group of women who claim he sexually harassed them. | The pair have been embroiled in a row over whether the party’s former chief executive should apologise to a group of women who claim he sexually harassed them. |
| Lord Rennard denies the allegations and, after an inquiry found the women’s claims were credible but not provable beyond reasonable doubt, says he will not give an apology, which might be seen as an admission of guilt. | |
| The peer has said he will resume his seat when the House of Lords convenes today. He can be prevented from joining his party’s ranks by chief whip Lord Newby and the party's leader in the Upper House, Lord Wallace, but can force the matter to a go to a Lords’ vote if he appeals. | The peer has said he will resume his seat when the House of Lords convenes today. He can be prevented from joining his party’s ranks by chief whip Lord Newby and the party's leader in the Upper House, Lord Wallace, but can force the matter to a go to a Lords’ vote if he appeals. |
| Speaking to ITV’s Daybreak, Mr Clegg said it would be “in defiance” of his authority if Lord Rennard was restored to the party without first apologising. | Speaking to ITV’s Daybreak, Mr Clegg said it would be “in defiance” of his authority if Lord Rennard was restored to the party without first apologising. |
| “What is on the line here is basic decency,” he said. “When you have caused offence and distress to other people, even if it doesn't end up in the hands of the police or the courts, basic decency suggests you should apologise. | “What is on the line here is basic decency,” he said. “When you have caused offence and distress to other people, even if it doesn't end up in the hands of the police or the courts, basic decency suggests you should apologise. |
| Nick Clegg was previously warned he could face a rebellion by Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords if he tried to remove the whip from Lord Rennard | Nick Clegg was previously warned he could face a rebellion by Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords if he tried to remove the whip from Lord Rennard |
| “That is what Lord Rennard has been asked to do after a formal investigation and a process - recommended by an independent QC. I really think he needs to do that. | “That is what Lord Rennard has been asked to do after a formal investigation and a process - recommended by an independent QC. I really think he needs to do that. |
| “I don't think it is appropriate that he should be sitting in the House of Lords if he hasn't provided that apology - no apology, no whip, if you like.” | “I don't think it is appropriate that he should be sitting in the House of Lords if he hasn't provided that apology - no apology, no whip, if you like.” |
| Mr Clegg said that if the Lib Dem peers vote to readmit Lord Rennard this afternoon “it would be in defiance of basic decency, it would be in defiance of what the independent formal processes have recommended, in defiance of me and in defiance of the president of the party”. | Mr Clegg said that if the Lib Dem peers vote to readmit Lord Rennard this afternoon “it would be in defiance of basic decency, it would be in defiance of what the independent formal processes have recommended, in defiance of me and in defiance of the president of the party”. |
| On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Lib Dem leader added: “I can’t frogmarch someone to apologise… [but] if he doesn’t apologise, I don’t think he should sit in the House of Lords this afternoon.” | On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Lib Dem leader added: “I can’t frogmarch someone to apologise… [but] if he doesn’t apologise, I don’t think he should sit in the House of Lords this afternoon.” |
| The peer has nonetheless won the backing of some members of his party. The Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies played down the allegations against the peer and attacked Mr Clegg's handling of the row. | The peer has nonetheless won the backing of some members of his party. The Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies played down the allegations against the peer and attacked Mr Clegg's handling of the row. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: “This isn't Jimmy Savile, it is touching someone's leg six years ago, at a meeting, through clothing. | He told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: “This isn't Jimmy Savile, it is touching someone's leg six years ago, at a meeting, through clothing. |
| “This is the equivalent of a few years ago, an Italian man pinching a woman's bottom. How much more must this man be made to suffer through the media condemnation that comes out day after day fed by the party leadership?” | “This is the equivalent of a few years ago, an Italian man pinching a woman's bottom. How much more must this man be made to suffer through the media condemnation that comes out day after day fed by the party leadership?” |
| Mr Davies added: “The whole thing has become like the Salem witch trials... A good man has been publicly destroyed through the media with the apparent support of Nick Clegg. It is completely out of proportion, nonsense and outrageous.” | Mr Davies added: “The whole thing has become like the Salem witch trials... A good man has been publicly destroyed through the media with the apparent support of Nick Clegg. It is completely out of proportion, nonsense and outrageous.” |