Nick Clegg admits failing to deal properly with several women's complaints as demands for apology from peer divides party
Nick Clegg is facing a serious split in the Liberal Democrats over the party's handling of the Lord Rennard harassment allegations, with grassroots activists warning that a continued role in the party for the former chief executive will cost votes and could make it a no-go zone for women.
The deputy prime minister admitted he failed to deal properly with several women's complaints, after an independent inquiry found Rennard's behaviour may have caused them distress and violated their personal space.
However, Clegg confirmed he would not stop the peer continuing to sit in the Lords or on his party's main policymaking committee, as the investigation did not find evidence that Rennard acted in a sexually inappropriate way.
Sources said there have been internal Lib Dem talks about whether the whip could be removed from Rennard if he failed to apologise. But Rennard's supporters include more than half of the Lib Dem parliamentary party in the Lords, and they are likely to argue against this move after an independent inquiry led by Alistair Webster QC recommended no disciplinary action.
On Thursday Clegg remained under intense pressure over the issue, with Alison Smith, one of the women claiming to have been inappropriately touched by Rennard, demanding that the whip is suspended until there is an apology.
Clegg insists his former strategy guru will play no part in the next election campaign, but he may face a rebellion over the peer's roles at a meeting of the party's federal executive in just over a week's time.
Daisy Cooper, a member of the Lib Dem executive and prospective parliamentary candidate, said Rennard's position was untenable without an apology. "There are a large number of people who think this is a complete whitewash," she said. "I will be raising it with Nick Clegg in person in just over a week's time."
Cooper said the issue had divided the party between loyalists to Rennard, who appreciate his successful tenure as a chief executive, and many others who feel the issue has not been dealt with properly.
Linda Jack, chairman of the Liberal Left group within the party, also described the outcome as a "completely unsatisfactory conclusion" and called on other members to raise it as every opportunity locally, regionally and nationally.
"We are already witnessing the sexist divide on Twitter, women who are outraged and men who question what all the fuss is about," she said. "Lest any holier-than-thou activists and politicians from other parties should forget – this is not just a Lib Dem issue, it is one that confronts women in all parties and in all professions.
"What is so depressing is that of all parties, we should have got it right. We didn't. We must. I for one will be raising it at the diversity engagement group on Thursday, I trust others will raise it at every opportunity in the party, locally, regionally and nationally. If not, I fear that many more women will be voting with their feet, not just in the party, but also in the country."
Another parliamentary candidate and activist, Charlotte Henry, said the Lib Dems "risk declaring themselves a no-go zone" for women. "You can appoint as many pastoral care officers as you want, but if you don't discipline people when credible allegations are made it doesn't hold much water," she wrote in a blog. "The Lib Dems have a lot of work to do to convince women that this is a party they can be part of."
Alison Goldsworthy, one of the women who accused Rennard of inappropriate behaviour, also directed scathing criticism at Clegg, calling on him to show moral courage and give the peer an ultimatum.
"It is about time behaviour like this stopped going unpunished," she said. "When you describe the shifty power dynamics of the Westminster Village to outsiders it often leaves them slack jawed. In any modern office environment, that isn't stuck in the 50s, people would be out the door for repeatedly abusing their position of power in such a way. Yet in politics it continues, with just a quiet word from the whips, and yesterday's announcement from the Lib Dems sends a message that this is OK. That is quite wrong."
There is also unease within the parliamentary party, with one Lib Dem MP saying he believed Rennard should distance himself from the Lib Dems for the good of the party he has helped make a success.
However, supporters of Rennard point out that all investigations into his conduct are now at an end and no police nor disciplinary charges have been brought.
Among Rennard's most prominent backers is Lord Carlile, a Lib Dem peer, who on Thursday accused Clegg of defending a form of secret justice by demanding an apology for actions there is no proof have taken place.
He said Rennard would not be apologising since he had done nothing wrong, adding he would be resuming his position on the Lib Dem policy committee.
He also insisted that Webster had told him and Rennard directly that the case against Rennard did not meet either the criminal or civil standard of proof.
Evan Harris, a former Lib Dem MP and member of the federal policy committee, also said he was "quite happy" to sit with Rennard in party meetings in future.
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Lord Rennard case could make Lib Dems 'no-go zone for women'
Rowena Mason
Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:20:42 GMT
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