Senior Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard will not apologise to female activists who accused him of sexual harassment, despite an investigation by a leading lawyer concluding he should say sorry.
Disciplinary proceedings against the party’s former chief executive were dropped after a QC said there was a less than 50% chance the allegations could be proved beyond reasonable doubt, although there was broadly credibleevidence of “behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants”.
Lord Rennard’s legal representative, Lib Dem peer Lord Carlile, said there was no reason for an apology and criticised QC Alistair Webster, appointed to probe the allegations, for making that recommendation.
Party leader Nick Clegg has ruled Lord Rennard out of playing a role in his 2015 election campaign, but he has rejoined the Lib Dem group in the House of Lords.
