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| Danny Alexander: Lord Rennard will not be involved in election campaign | Danny Alexander: Lord Rennard will not be involved in election campaign |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, has made clear that Lord Rennard will play no role during the Liberal Democrat general election campaign after Vince Cable, the business secretary, suggested the party would want to use the peer's "expertise". | Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, has made clear that Lord Rennard will play no role during the Liberal Democrat general election campaign after Vince Cable, the business secretary, suggested the party would want to use the peer's "expertise". |
| As Labour frontbenchers expressed astonishment that Rennard – who was readmitted to the Lib Dems this week after final diciplinary proceedings against him relating to allegations of sexually inappropriate conduct were dropped – could be involved in the Lib Dem campaign, the Treasury chief secretary insisted the peer would not have "any role at all". | |
| Alexander told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "Nick Clegg has made clear, and I share this view, that Lord Rennard will not have a role in the election campaign or in drawing up the election manifesto. We have teams in place to do that. It is right that we carry on in that way. We have made a lot of changes to our party in terms of our culture and practice since these allegations were first made. | Alexander told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "Nick Clegg has made clear, and I share this view, that Lord Rennard will not have a role in the election campaign or in drawing up the election manifesto. We have teams in place to do that. It is right that we carry on in that way. We have made a lot of changes to our party in terms of our culture and practice since these allegations were first made. |
| "In terms of the election campaign, Lord Rennard will not have any role in that at all. There are no plans for the party to make use of Lord Rennard in any way during the election campaign, or in terms of planning that campaign." | "In terms of the election campaign, Lord Rennard will not have any role in that at all. There are no plans for the party to make use of Lord Rennard in any way during the election campaign, or in terms of planning that campaign." |
| Alexander was forced to clarify Rennard's role after Cable suggested that the peer, who orchestrated a series of Lib Dem byelection wins in the 1990s, could advise the party on an informal basis. The business secretary told the BBC: "I'm sure people will want to use his expertise. But my understanding is that won't be in a major full-time role." | Alexander was forced to clarify Rennard's role after Cable suggested that the peer, who orchestrated a series of Lib Dem byelection wins in the 1990s, could advise the party on an informal basis. The business secretary told the BBC: "I'm sure people will want to use his expertise. But my understanding is that won't be in a major full-time role." |
| Gloria De Piero, the shadow women's minister, tweeted: "Vince Cable confirms Lord Rennard role in Lib Dem general election campaign. What sort of message does that send to women?" | Gloria De Piero, the shadow women's minister, tweeted: "Vince Cable confirms Lord Rennard role in Lib Dem general election campaign. What sort of message does that send to women?" |
| Luciana Berger, the shadow public health minister, tweeted: "Words fail me." | Luciana Berger, the shadow public health minister, tweeted: "Words fail me." |
| The Lib Dem leadership moved quickly to dismiss Cable's remarks, which threatened to create a new row in the party after Rennard was readmitted on Tuesday night after the party dropped the final disciplinary proceedings against Rennard relating to allegations by four women that he acted in a sexually inappropriate way. | The Lib Dem leadership moved quickly to dismiss Cable's remarks, which threatened to create a new row in the party after Rennard was readmitted on Tuesday night after the party dropped the final disciplinary proceedings against Rennard relating to allegations by four women that he acted in a sexually inappropriate way. |
| An inquiry by Alistair Webster QC described the testimony of the women as credible. But Webster said there was insufficient evidence to the criminal burden of proof to launch formal proceedings. | An inquiry by Alistair Webster QC described the testimony of the women as credible. But Webster said there was insufficient evidence to the criminal burden of proof to launch formal proceedings. |
| Cable's remarks were particularly sensitive because some of the women had been reluctant to make public allegations about Rennard. They changed their minds when he was lined up for a new party role after standing down as chief executive following private allegations about his conduct. Rennard stood down on grounds of ill health. | Cable's remarks were particularly sensitive because some of the women had been reluctant to make public allegations about Rennard. They changed their minds when he was lined up for a new party role after standing down as chief executive following private allegations about his conduct. Rennard stood down on grounds of ill health. |
| Rennard enjoys good relations with Cable, whose supporters unsuccessfully launched the first stages of a coup against Clegg after the European elections. | Rennard enjoys good relations with Cable, whose supporters unsuccessfully launched the first stages of a coup against Clegg after the European elections. |
| Cable said of the Rennard allegations on Channel 4 News on Wednesday: "The party has a process. We have spent 14 months on this, it has been very difficult, very painful, particularly for the women who were involved. The decision has been made that there was no evidence to pursue an expulsion of Lord Rennard. He has been readmitted and we welcome him." | Cable said of the Rennard allegations on Channel 4 News on Wednesday: "The party has a process. We have spent 14 months on this, it has been very difficult, very painful, particularly for the women who were involved. The decision has been made that there was no evidence to pursue an expulsion of Lord Rennard. He has been readmitted and we welcome him." |