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Rennard may take legal action over Lib Dem suspension Rennard to take legal action over Lib Dem suspension
(about 4 hours later)
Lord Rennard is considering seeking a court injunction to lift his suspension by the Liberal Democrats. Lord Rennard is to seek a court injunction to lift his suspension by the Liberal Democrats as the dispute within the party deepens.
The peer had his membership temporarily suspended after he refused to apologise over sexual harassment claims, saying it would be an admission of guilt. The peer had his membership temporarily suspended after he refused to apologise over sexual harassment claims.
A woman who says she was harassed by him has refused to rule out taking legal action against him. But the peer will seek a court order within days to try and halt disciplinary proceedings against him.
And the BBC understands Lord Rennard is taking legal advice about whether the party has broken its own rules. It comes as one activist has called on arbitration service Acas to be brought in to mediate between the two sides.
The Lib Dems suspended the peer from the party for 14 weeks while it investigates whether he has brought it into disrepute by refusing to apologise for causing distress to a number of women.The Lib Dems suspended the peer from the party for 14 weeks while it investigates whether he has brought it into disrepute by refusing to apologise for causing distress to a number of women.
The BBC News channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Lord Rennard is looking at whether the party followed "due process" in its handling of his case and could make a decision by the end of the day. The BBC News channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Lord Rennard believed the party had not followed "due process" in its handling of his case following allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances to several women activists and touched them inappropriately.
It increasingly looked like the saga could be "heading for the courts", he added, with the party questioning the peer's grounds for legal action. Sources, he added, have warned that legal action could lead "to a blood bath, the like of which the party has not seen before".
They suggest any court case would result in the disclosure of the original report into Lord Rennard's conduct and details about the complainants.
'Listened to''Listened to'
Lord Rennard of Wavertree resigned the party whip last year amid claims he had made unwanted sexual advances to several women activists and touched them inappropriately. The party's internal investigation, led by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC, concluded the claims against Lord Rennard could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The party's internal investigation, led by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC, concluded the claims could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
But it also said the evidence of the four women who lodged complaints was "broadly credible" and urged the peer to apologise.But it also said the evidence of the four women who lodged complaints was "broadly credible" and urged the peer to apologise.
Lord Rennard said he felt "regret" if he had unintentionally "hurt" any women but would not apologise for something he "had not done".Lord Rennard said he felt "regret" if he had unintentionally "hurt" any women but would not apologise for something he "had not done".
In a 2,600 word statement, he said he had suffered from "severe stress, anxiety and depression" as a result of the allegations. He has also expressed concerns that an apology would be admission of guilty and make him liable to legal action by his accusers.
Bridget Harris, one of those who made a complaint against Lord Rennard, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme that "of course" she would not rule out future legal action against the peer.Bridget Harris, one of those who made a complaint against Lord Rennard, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme that "of course" she would not rule out future legal action against the peer.
"In terms of civil action, how can I possibly say... what I would or wouldn't do, depending on the circumstances," the former aide to Nick Clegg said."In terms of civil action, how can I possibly say... what I would or wouldn't do, depending on the circumstances," the former aide to Nick Clegg said.
She continued: "What I'm really interested in is getting back to the core point, which is... that the party has recognised that, as women, and the complaints that we've made, we've been listened to."She continued: "What I'm really interested in is getting back to the core point, which is... that the party has recognised that, as women, and the complaints that we've made, we've been listened to."
'Betrayal''Betrayal'
The party's handling of the issue has been widely criticised and former MP David Howarth questioned the basis for disciplinary action against Lord Rennard, saying Mr Webster's suggestion that he apologise was a "recommendation not an order".The party's handling of the issue has been widely criticised and former MP David Howarth questioned the basis for disciplinary action against Lord Rennard, saying Mr Webster's suggestion that he apologise was a "recommendation not an order".
Although he believed the peer should apologise, Mr Howarth said he thought Lord Rennard was being punished for "defying his leader". Although he believed the peer should apologise, Mr Howarth said he thought Lord Rennard was being punished for "defying his leader" and expelling him would be a "betrayal of the party's values".
"Are we in a political party any more, or are we in a fan club?" he wrote on the Lib Dem Voice website, a forum for party activists.
"To threaten to throw Chris Rennard out of the party for refusing to do what the leader demands is itself a betrayal of what the party stands for."
Former leader Lord Ashdown acknowledged it had not been the party's "finest moment" but told the BBC News channel that Nick Clegg had "stood up for a really important principle" in insisting women in the party were treated with respect.Former leader Lord Ashdown acknowledged it had not been the party's "finest moment" but told the BBC News channel that Nick Clegg had "stood up for a really important principle" in insisting women in the party were treated with respect.
"I am a friend and admirer of Chris Rennard... but he is just wrong on this," he said, adding that it would be a "simple thing" for him to apologise."I am a friend and admirer of Chris Rennard... but he is just wrong on this," he said, adding that it would be a "simple thing" for him to apologise.
Although Lord Rennard has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats, he can still attend parliament and vote in Lords debates as an independent peer.Although Lord Rennard has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats, he can still attend parliament and vote in Lords debates as an independent peer.