Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has ordered an urgent review into how the party deals with sexual harassment claims after a senior peer was accused of inappropriately touching female staff over several years.
Lord Christopher Rennard, the Lib Dems’ former chief executive, strongly denies the allegations, which were broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday.
Several women who have worked for the party told the programme that Rennard, 52, abused his position for years by inappropriately touching them and propositioning them.
Some of the women told Channel 4 that they had complained about Rennard to senior party figures but their claims were not investigated seriously.
Rennard, who joined the Lib Dems as a teenager and worked for them as an election strategist for more than two decades, said he was “deeply shocked by and strongly disputes the allegations”.
“He regards the report as a total distortion of his character,” said a statement issued on his behalf.
“Not a single complaint of misconduct was made against him to his knowledge during the 27 years he worked for the Liberal Democrat party.”
The peer said he would “temporarily stand aside” from the Lib Dems’ group in the House of Lords, meaning he will not be able to vote with the party.
He will also withdraw from the party’s federal policy committee, which draws up policies to be debated at party conferences.
Clegg has asked party president Tim Farron to launch an immediate review into the Lib Dems’ procedures for dealing with harassment claims and investigate how past allegations have been handled.
“There are a number of questions that have been raised and our reviews will ensure we properly address all of them,” the party said.
“We will not tolerate harassment in our party and we urge anyone to contact the chief executive or use our confidential whistle-blower procedure if they have issues they wish to raise as a result of Channel 4’s report.”
Lib Dems probe sexual harassment claims
