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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems launch investigation into Norman Lamb campaign | Lib Dems launch investigation into Norman Lamb campaign |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have launched an investigation into allegations Norman Lamb's leadership campaign team may have breached data protection rules. | The Liberal Democrats have launched an investigation into allegations Norman Lamb's leadership campaign team may have breached data protection rules. |
| One volunteer has resigned and another is understood to have left over the claims, in the Independent on Sunday. | |
| The paper says some party members claim they were polled by phone by someone they believed to be from Lib Dem HQ rather than Mr Lamb's personal team. | The paper says some party members claim they were polled by phone by someone they believed to be from Lib Dem HQ rather than Mr Lamb's personal team. |
| The party is considering referring the matter to the Information Commissioner. | The party is considering referring the matter to the Information Commissioner. |
| Mr Lamb, the MP for North Norfolk and former care minister, is running against Tim Farron, former party president, for the Lib Dem leadership following the resignation of Nick Clegg. | Mr Lamb, the MP for North Norfolk and former care minister, is running against Tim Farron, former party president, for the Lib Dem leadership following the resignation of Nick Clegg. |
| Mark Gettleson, a strategic communications and research professional, confirmed he had resigned, saying he regretted "any harm done to Norman Lamb and his campaign". | |
| 'Decisive' | 'Decisive' |
| The Independent on Sunday reported accusations that the line of questioning in the apparent "opinion poll" may have gone into territory which could have cast doubt on Mr Farron's suitability. | The Independent on Sunday reported accusations that the line of questioning in the apparent "opinion poll" may have gone into territory which could have cast doubt on Mr Farron's suitability. |
| A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "We have been made aware of an alleged breach of party rules and are looking into the issue as a matter of urgency. | A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "We have been made aware of an alleged breach of party rules and are looking into the issue as a matter of urgency. |
| "The Liberal Democrats take any alleged breaches of party rules extremely seriously. The party has contacted both teams to reiterate rules on the leadership process." | "The Liberal Democrats take any alleged breaches of party rules extremely seriously. The party has contacted both teams to reiterate rules on the leadership process." |
| Mr Lamb told the newspaper: "Volunteer members of my team acted without my authority. As soon as it was clear what had happened, I had to be decisive and removed them from my campaign. | Mr Lamb told the newspaper: "Volunteer members of my team acted without my authority. As soon as it was clear what had happened, I had to be decisive and removed them from my campaign. |
| "As soon as I saw Tim I talked to him about it and said I won't tolerate it from my campaign. | "As soon as I saw Tim I talked to him about it and said I won't tolerate it from my campaign. |
| "In a situation we [the Lib Dems] are in at the moment we cannot allow ourselves to fall out or behave irresponsibly." | "In a situation we [the Lib Dems] are in at the moment we cannot allow ourselves to fall out or behave irresponsibly." |
| It is understood there will be a formal discussion with the party's data controller on Monday regarding a potential referral to the Information Commissioner. | It is understood there will be a formal discussion with the party's data controller on Monday regarding a potential referral to the Information Commissioner. |
| Mr Gettleson said the poll in question - which was conducted on Thursday and Friday last week - had been carried out to gauge the state of the race between the two candidates on issues. | |
| He said the poll was "within the appropriate boundaries of campaigning and research practice", but said he regretted any offence caused to Mr Farron. | |
| "I think that as long as the questions asked and points made are fair and factual, then Liberal Democrat members deserve to know the full facts about their leadership candidates - and they should know them before they vote, not after," he said. | |
| He added: "I wrote questions about these issues to see if there was empirical evidence that other members also share that view - a view that has been unquestionably confirmed by the poll's results." |