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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dem chief executive to quit | Lib Dem chief executive to quit |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Lib Dem chief executive Lord Rennard is to resign, a spokeswoman has announced. | Lib Dem chief executive Lord Rennard is to resign, a spokeswoman has announced. |
| She said he was standing down for health and family reasons and had been discussing it for some time with the party leader Nick Clegg. | She said he was standing down for health and family reasons and had been discussing it for some time with the party leader Nick Clegg. |
| She said it was not linked to criticism of his expenses. He is reported to have claimed over £40,000 for a second home when he owned a flat near Westminster. | She said it was not linked to criticism of his expenses. He is reported to have claimed over £40,000 for a second home when he owned a flat near Westminster. |
| Lord Rennard said at the time that the basis of his claims were approved by the House of Lords authorities. | Lord Rennard said at the time that the basis of his claims were approved by the House of Lords authorities. |
| 'Immense contribution' | 'Immense contribution' |
| The peer, the party's chief election campaign strategist, will step down from his position at the end of the summer. | The peer, the party's chief election campaign strategist, will step down from his position at the end of the summer. |
| However, he will continue to run the party's campaign for local council and European elections next month. | However, he will continue to run the party's campaign for local council and European elections next month. |
| Without Chris' unique skills...I doubt that the party would now have the largest number of MPs in decades Nick Clegg | Without Chris' unique skills...I doubt that the party would now have the largest number of MPs in decades Nick Clegg |
| Responding to the announcement, Mr Clegg said Lord Rennard would be "sorely missed". | |
| "It is impossible to exaggerate Chris's immense contribution to the Liberal Democrats over the years. | |
| "Without Chris' unique skills as one of the country's most astute and effective political campaigners, I doubt that the party would now have the largest number of MPs in decades." | "Without Chris' unique skills as one of the country's most astute and effective political campaigners, I doubt that the party would now have the largest number of MPs in decades." |
| He said he had steered the party "through some turbulent times" and had made its organisation more professional. | He said he had steered the party "through some turbulent times" and had made its organisation more professional. |
| "At all times, he has been utterly loyal, hard working and dedicated to the wider good of the party," he said. | "At all times, he has been utterly loyal, hard working and dedicated to the wider good of the party," he said. |
| In a statement announcing his planned departure, Lord Rennard said he wanted more time "outside the Westminster bubble" for himself and his family. | |
| By-election | By-election |
| He said he would continue to support Mr Clegg and the party but no longer in a day-to-day capacity. | He said he would continue to support Mr Clegg and the party but no longer in a day-to-day capacity. |
| "I want to be able to work more flexibly in future whilst of course continuing to help our party advance," he said. | "I want to be able to work more flexibly in future whilst of course continuing to help our party advance," he said. |
| "I believe that I will be better able to do so without the administrative burdens of being chief executive and running the party's day-to-day organisation." | "I believe that I will be better able to do so without the administrative burdens of being chief executive and running the party's day-to-day organisation." |
| Lord Rennard, who was made a life peer in 1999, is credited with masterminding the party's electoral advance in recent years - firstly as director of campaigns and then as chief executive. | Lord Rennard, who was made a life peer in 1999, is credited with masterminding the party's electoral advance in recent years - firstly as director of campaigns and then as chief executive. |
| He helped pull off a series of spectacular by-election victories over the past 20 years. | He helped pull off a series of spectacular by-election victories over the past 20 years. |
| The party won 62 seats in the 2005 general election, its best performance since the 1920s. | The party won 62 seats in the 2005 general election, its best performance since the 1920s. |
| However, the party has enjoyed mixed fortunes since then with both Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell being forced out as leaders. | However, the party has enjoyed mixed fortunes since then with both Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell being forced out as leaders. |