This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lib-dems-suspend-mp-mike-hancock-over-fresh-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-9078427.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lib Dems suspend MP Mike Hancock over fresh allegations of sexual misconduct Lib Dems suspend MP Mike Hancock over fresh allegations of sexual misconduct
(about 5 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats have suspended an MP's party membership as they were hit by fresh allegations of sexual misconduct. The Liberal Democrats have suspended an MP’s party membership as they were hit by fresh allegations of sexual misconduct.
Mike Hancock, the MP for Portsmouth South, had already resigned the party whip in June to contest claims he sexually assaulted a vulnerable constituent.Mike Hancock, the MP for Portsmouth South, had already resigned the party whip in June to contest claims he sexually assaulted a vulnerable constituent.
The Lib Dems announced they were withdrawing his party membership after the leak of a private report which detailed the allegations against him. The Liberal Democrats announced they were withdrawing his party membership after the leak of a private report detailing the allegations.
The move came as Nick Clegg battles to draw a line under a debilitating internal feud over the future of the party's former chief executive, Lord Rennard, who denies accusations of sexual harassment levelled at him by several women. The move came as Nick Clegg tries to draw a line under an internal feud over the future of the party’s former chief executive, Lord Rennard, who denies accusations of sexual harassment levelled at him by several women. His party membership has also been suspended, but the peer is planning legal action to force the Liberal Democrat hierarchy to re-admit him to their ranks.
His party membership has also been suspended, but the peer is planning legal action to force the Lib Dem hierarchy to readmit him to their ranks. The party’s embarrassment deepened after the leak of a report commissioned by Ports- mouth City Council into the allegations against Mr Hancock, who until today was sitting as a Liberal Democrat councillor. The authority decided not to publish the document, or discuss its findings, until a High Court case has been settled.
The party's embarrassment deepened after the leak of a report commissioned by Portsmouth City Council into the allegations against Mr Hancock, who until today was sitting as a councillor for the Lib Dems. But a full version of the report by Nigel Pascoe QC, containing a series of lurid allegations, was leaked to a website. The barrister described the woman’s version of events as “credible” and concluded there was evidence of “serious and unwelcome sexual behaviour” by the MP. A Liberal Democrat spokesman said the party saw the report for the first time this afternoon. He said: “Given Nigel Pascoe QC’s conclusions in his report, we have immediately suspended Mike Hancock’s membership.”
The authority decided not to publish the document, or discuss its findings, until a High Court case over the claims has been settled. Mr Hancock, who has been an MP for 19 years, denies the allegations. His spokesman said: “These matters have twice been looked at by the police, first in 2010, and in conjunction with the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], they have found that there is no case for Mr Hancock to answer and have taken no further action.” He said Mr Hancock had not, following legal advice, given evidence to Mr Pascoe and therefore believed his report was “likely to be one-sided”.
But a full version of the report by Nigel Pascoe QC, containing a series of lurid allegations, was leaked to a website. The barrister described the woman's version of events as “credible” and concluded there was evidence of “serious and unwelcome sexual behaviour” by the MP. The woman who has accused Mr Hancock of sexual assault told ITV News that a Liberal Democrat official did not seem interested in her claims. “I said to him that your MP has done these things to me and you just don’t seem to want to do anything about it,” she said. “It’s disgusting... what he’s done is just not right and I just don’t feel you’re actually taking it seriously.”
A Lib Dem spokesman said the party saw the report for the first time this afternoon. He said: “Given Nigel Pascoe QC's conclusions in his report, we have immediately suspended Mike Hancock's membership of the party.” Meanwhile, allies of Lord Rennard appealed to the party leadership to enter mediation in an effort to avoid a bruising court battle. They said he wanted to avoid legal action, but that his suspension would have to be lifted first.
Mr Hancock, who has been an MP for 19 years, denies the allegations. Lib Dems suspend MP Mike Hancock over fresh allegations of sexual misconduct
A spokesman for him said: “These matters have twice been looked at by the police, first in 2010, and in conjunction with the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], they have found that there is no case for Mr Hancock to answer and have taken no further action.”  
He said Mr Hancock had not, following legal advice, given evidence to Mr Pascoe and therefore believed his report was “likely to be one-sided”.
Meanwhile, allies of Lord Rennard appealed to the party leadership to enter mediation in an effort to avoid a bruising court battle. They said he wanted to avoid legal action but that his suspension would have to be lifted first.
Mr Clegg is insisting that he will not back down over his demand that the peer must apologise to the four women activists who lodged complaints against him.
Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish Secretary, urged Lord Rennard to say sorry to the women.
He said: “It is not good for any political party to be seen to be washing its dirty linen in public. Sadly it is happening here.”
Asked how he would describe the situation, the Liberal Democrat minister replied: “I would say scandal without the sex.”
Mr Carmichael added that he was “quite keen to see is that there is some sort of mediation set up that will allow both parties to find a way through this”
Alison Smith, one of Lord Rennard's alleged victims, responded on Twitter: “The linen needs to be washed one way or another, especially when the threat to women is ongoing.”