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| Lib Dems lift Rennard suspension: Clegg says party 'changed' | Lib Dems lift Rennard suspension: Clegg says party 'changed' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has insisted the "party has changed" after Lord Rennard had his membership suspension lifted. | Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has insisted the "party has changed" after Lord Rennard had his membership suspension lifted. |
| Mr Clegg said the party had taken a "hard look in the mirror" since sexual harassment claims against the former Lib Dem chief executive first emerged. | Mr Clegg said the party had taken a "hard look in the mirror" since sexual harassment claims against the former Lib Dem chief executive first emerged. |
| Lord Rennard was suspended for bringing the party into disrepute after failing to apologise over the allegations. | Lord Rennard was suspended for bringing the party into disrepute after failing to apologise over the allegations. |
| But disciplinary action was dropped and the matter declared closed on Tuesday. | But disciplinary action was dropped and the matter declared closed on Tuesday. |
| In a statement, Lord Rennard said he was "pleased" and stressed that none of the allegations against him had been proven. | In a statement, Lord Rennard said he was "pleased" and stressed that none of the allegations against him had been proven. |
| "I remain a committed member of the Liberal Democrats and a strong believer in the principles of the party, as set out in the constitution, and based on the values that led me to join the Liberal Party in my teens," he said. | "I remain a committed member of the Liberal Democrats and a strong believer in the principles of the party, as set out in the constitution, and based on the values that led me to join the Liberal Party in my teens," he said. |
| He had initially refused to apologise over the allegations by female activists last year. However, he later expressed regret, conceding that he may have "inadvertently" encroached upon "personal space". | He had initially refused to apologise over the allegations by female activists last year. However, he later expressed regret, conceding that he may have "inadvertently" encroached upon "personal space". |
| Bad headlines for the Lib Dems | Bad headlines for the Lib Dems |
| By Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent | By Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent |
| The long-running disciplinary process inside the Lib Dems wasn't just about the reputation of one man - it was about the reputation of the party itself. | The long-running disciplinary process inside the Lib Dems wasn't just about the reputation of one man - it was about the reputation of the party itself. |
| The result of the independent investigation by a QC into allegations of sexual harassment produced the worst possible political outcome - the women's evidence was said to have been broadly credible, but the allegations weren't proven beyond reasonable doubt. | The result of the independent investigation by a QC into allegations of sexual harassment produced the worst possible political outcome - the women's evidence was said to have been broadly credible, but the allegations weren't proven beyond reasonable doubt. |
| That led to the complainants claiming the party wasn't taking their concerns seriously, while it made Lord Rennard at first wary of apologising for any of his actions - what he called inadvertent encroachment of personal space - in case that appeared to be an admission of guilt. | That led to the complainants claiming the party wasn't taking their concerns seriously, while it made Lord Rennard at first wary of apologising for any of his actions - what he called inadvertent encroachment of personal space - in case that appeared to be an admission of guilt. |
| So the new disciplinary proceedings which followed his initial failure to say sorry also led to further bad headlines for the Lib Dems. | So the new disciplinary proceedings which followed his initial failure to say sorry also led to further bad headlines for the Lib Dems. |
| And despite Lord Rennard's subsequent apology, some of his accusers continued to press for his expulsion from the party. | And despite Lord Rennard's subsequent apology, some of his accusers continued to press for his expulsion from the party. |
| Party officials knew a line had to be drawn under the row well before the election. | |
| But if they had hoped for a muted reaction by announcing Lord Rennard's reinstatement during the parliamentary recess, their wishes haven't been fulfilled. | But if they had hoped for a muted reaction by announcing Lord Rennard's reinstatement during the parliamentary recess, their wishes haven't been fulfilled. |
| As Lord Rennard's suspension was lifted, the deputy prime minister pledged a root and branch review of his party's culture and processes. | As Lord Rennard's suspension was lifted, the deputy prime minister pledged a root and branch review of his party's culture and processes. |
| He also signalled plans to reduce the burden of proof in disciplinary cases from criminal to civil. | He also signalled plans to reduce the burden of proof in disciplinary cases from criminal to civil. |
| 'Let down' | 'Let down' |
| "The Liberal Democrats have taken a long, hard look in the mirror since these allegations were made last year and I am confident that the party has changed," Mr Clegg said. | "The Liberal Democrats have taken a long, hard look in the mirror since these allegations were made last year and I am confident that the party has changed," Mr Clegg said. |
| "It is clear that a number of women in our party felt let down that the party failed to act on their complaints appropriately. I am determined that no member of our party should find themselves in that position again." | "It is clear that a number of women in our party felt let down that the party failed to act on their complaints appropriately. I am determined that no member of our party should find themselves in that position again." |
| Mr Clegg was accused of failing to stick up for women after Lord Rennard's suspension was lifted. | Mr Clegg was accused of failing to stick up for women after Lord Rennard's suspension was lifted. |
| Susan Gaszczak, one of the four who made claims against Lord Rennard and who quit after the party refused to expel him, said the Lib Dems had no backbone. | Susan Gaszczak, one of the four who made claims against Lord Rennard and who quit after the party refused to expel him, said the Lib Dems had no backbone. |
| In a statement, she added: "The party democracy obviously has no moral compass. They say we are credible, then fail to act on it and don't see the impact this has on women and women voters." | In a statement, she added: "The party democracy obviously has no moral compass. They say we are credible, then fail to act on it and don't see the impact this has on women and women voters." |
| Another complainant, Alison Goldworthy, said: "Faced with the opportunity to take strong action, the Liberal Democrats have once more failed to act." | Another complainant, Alison Goldworthy, said: "Faced with the opportunity to take strong action, the Liberal Democrats have once more failed to act." |
| She added: "That is quite wrong. It is an outcome of which the party should be ashamed." | She added: "That is quite wrong. It is an outcome of which the party should be ashamed." |
| 'Matter closed' | 'Matter closed' |
| A party inquiry by independent barrister, Alistair Webster QC, concluded that there should be no further action against Lord Rennard, saying that while "broadly credible" the claims, made by four party activists, could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt. | A party inquiry by independent barrister, Alistair Webster QC, concluded that there should be no further action against Lord Rennard, saying that while "broadly credible" the claims, made by four party activists, could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt. |
| A Lib Dem spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the Regional Parties Committee considered Mr Webster's report and decided not to proceed with the disciplinary action against Lord Rennard. | A Lib Dem spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the Regional Parties Committee considered Mr Webster's report and decided not to proceed with the disciplinary action against Lord Rennard. |
| "This brings the matter to a close and means the suspension of his membership is lifted," the spokesman said. | "This brings the matter to a close and means the suspension of his membership is lifted," the spokesman said. |
| Lib Dem president Tim Farron added that the party had changed its "rules and codes of conduct at every level" so that everyone involved in the party "was aware of their rights and responsibilities". | Lib Dem president Tim Farron added that the party had changed its "rules and codes of conduct at every level" so that everyone involved in the party "was aware of their rights and responsibilities". |
| Some Lib Dem members had argued that Lord Rennard should have been expelled from the party. | Some Lib Dem members had argued that Lord Rennard should have been expelled from the party. |
| Gloria De Piero, Labour's spokeswoman for women and equalities, said Mr Clegg had sent a clear message to women voters - that he was "more interested in trying to salvage the Lib Dems' fading election hopes than doing the right thing by the women who made these serious complaints". | Gloria De Piero, Labour's spokeswoman for women and equalities, said Mr Clegg had sent a clear message to women voters - that he was "more interested in trying to salvage the Lib Dems' fading election hopes than doing the right thing by the women who made these serious complaints". |