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| Lib Dems under fire from within over Lord Rennard harassment claims | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have come under fire from within their own party for launching an internal review rather than an independent inquiry into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against one of the party's most influential figures. | The Liberal Democrats have come under fire from within their own party for launching an internal review rather than an independent inquiry into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour against one of the party's most influential figures. |
| Tim Gordon, the Lib Dem's current chief executive, has said there will be two panels set up to look into the claims against his predecessor, Lord Rennard. The specific allegations of sexual misconduct will be conducted by five party members including three women and experts in the law and human resources. Claims the party did not react years ago when the allegations were first made will be examined by another group led by the Lib Dem's president, Tim Farron, and will include non-party members. | Tim Gordon, the Lib Dem's current chief executive, has said there will be two panels set up to look into the claims against his predecessor, Lord Rennard. The specific allegations of sexual misconduct will be conducted by five party members including three women and experts in the law and human resources. Claims the party did not react years ago when the allegations were first made will be examined by another group led by the Lib Dem's president, Tim Farron, and will include non-party members. |
| Rennard, 52, who was the former party election strategist and chief executive until 2009, has strongly denied the claims. | Rennard, 52, who was the former party election strategist and chief executive until 2009, has strongly denied the claims. |
| Writing on the influential website, Lib Dem Voice, co-editor Stephen Tall described the internal review as "an inadequate response" to the events. | Writing on the influential website, Lib Dem Voice, co-editor Stephen Tall described the internal review as "an inadequate response" to the events. |
| Tall said he had written to Farron saying it would be hard for the president to "ask questions that need to be asked" of some of the people allegedly involved. | Tall said he had written to Farron saying it would be hard for the president to "ask questions that need to be asked" of some of the people allegedly involved. |
| "It needs to be someone outside the party," wrote Tall. "At the very least it needs to be someone outside the parliamentary party." | "It needs to be someone outside the party," wrote Tall. "At the very least it needs to be someone outside the parliamentary party." |
| The allegations against Rennard were made on Channel 4 News, and included claims from several women, two of whom were named as figures still well known in political circles. | The allegations against Rennard were made on Channel 4 News, and included claims from several women, two of whom were named as figures still well known in political circles. |
| Rennard, 52, who was the former party election strategist and chief executive until 2009, has strongly denied the claims. | Rennard, 52, who was the former party election strategist and chief executive until 2009, has strongly denied the claims. |
| Nick Clegg was drawn into the row after a Sunday newspaper reported about Facebook messages, in which one woman claimed that "Nick knows" – something his officials continue to deny. Clegg returns from a family holiday in Spain on Sunday night, and is expected to make his first public statement on the controversy. | Nick Clegg was drawn into the row after a Sunday newspaper reported about Facebook messages, in which one woman claimed that "Nick knows" – something his officials continue to deny. Clegg returns from a family holiday in Spain on Sunday night, and is expected to make his first public statement on the controversy. |
| Hours after the Mail on Sunday report about Clegg, two other senior party figures appeared in public to deny they had been aware of concerns about Rennard's behaviour. | Hours after the Mail on Sunday report about Clegg, two other senior party figures appeared in public to deny they had been aware of concerns about Rennard's behaviour. |
| Vince Cable, the business secretary, and Jeremy Browne, a home office minister, both said they had not known about the claims until they appeared on Channel 4 on Thursday. | Vince Cable, the business secretary, and Jeremy Browne, a home office minister, both said they had not known about the claims until they appeared on Channel 4 on Thursday. |
| Their claims contrasted with reports that rumours about Rennard had circulated within the party and among political journalists for years. | Their claims contrasted with reports that rumours about Rennard had circulated within the party and among political journalists for years. |
| In his blog, Tall said: "Like many in the party I'd heard rumours along the lines of those which have now surfaced against Chris Rennard for years. I'd always hoped they were untrue." | In his blog, Tall said: "Like many in the party I'd heard rumours along the lines of those which have now surfaced against Chris Rennard for years. I'd always hoped they were untrue." |
| Rennard's lawyers have issued a statement on his behalf, saying he strongly disputed the allegations. | Rennard's lawyers have issued a statement on his behalf, saying he strongly disputed the allegations. |
| "Lord Rennard is deeply shocked by and strongly disputes the allegations made against him in the Channel 4 News broadcast on 21 February. He regards the report as a total distortion of his character," it said. | "Lord Rennard is deeply shocked by and strongly disputes the allegations made against him in the Channel 4 News broadcast on 21 February. He regards the report as a total distortion of his character," it said. |
| "Not a single complaint of misconduct was made against him to his knowledge during the 27 years he worked for the Liberal Democrat party. Despite the claim made by one woman in the report, Lord Rennard continued working closely with her for 10 years after the alleged event described." | "Not a single complaint of misconduct was made against him to his knowledge during the 27 years he worked for the Liberal Democrat party. Despite the claim made by one woman in the report, Lord Rennard continued working closely with her for 10 years after the alleged event described." |
| The Lib Dem response was also criticised by Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, who told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "When are we ever going to learn that when allegations are made against people in top positions they must not be swept under the carpet. The organisation gathers around them, rather than really holds them to account." | The Lib Dem response was also criticised by Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, who told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "When are we ever going to learn that when allegations are made against people in top positions they must not be swept under the carpet. The organisation gathers around them, rather than really holds them to account." |
| The controversy comes as the Lib Dems prepare for a major byelection in Eastleigh on Thursday, in which the party faces a tough task holding on the seat vacated by Chris Huhne, who resigned after pleading guilty in court to perverting the course of justice after he asked his wife to take speeding points for him a decade ago. If the party loses the south coast seat, it would be its first byelection defeat for many years. | The controversy comes as the Lib Dems prepare for a major byelection in Eastleigh on Thursday, in which the party faces a tough task holding on the seat vacated by Chris Huhne, who resigned after pleading guilty in court to perverting the course of justice after he asked his wife to take speeding points for him a decade ago. If the party loses the south coast seat, it would be its first byelection defeat for many years. |