Lib Dems clash over Rennard’s future in party

Channel 4 News revealed on Thursday that Lord Rennard, a former Liberal Democrat chief executive, has apologised to four women who complained about his behaviour.

In a letter, he conceded he “may well have encroached upon ‘personal space”‘, but Alison Goldsworthy, Bridget Harris and Susan Gaszczak said he should now be permanently excluded from the party.

Despite these calls, his friends say he will now seek to have the Lib Dem whip restored after complying with the recommendations of an independent inquiry.

‘He should come back’

Lord Steel told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he thought Lord Rennard had brought “closure” to the “very unfortunate episode” with his apology.

He said: “I’m glad it is now over and we can get back to normal. I think he should come back, he has made an apology. He thinks his conduct was less than it should have been.”

A dilemma for Nick Clegg as Lord Rennard apologises. Read Cathy Newman's blog

The row is another unwelcome distraction for Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who is facing calls to quit from within his own party after poor results in the local and European elections.

His most senior colleague, Business Secretary Vince Cable, has been forced to deny plotting to oust him.

More than a year ago, Channel 4 News broadcast allegations that Lord Rennard had abused his power by behaving inappropriately to a series of women.

Until Thursday, he had always denied the claims and had also defied Mr Clegg’s demands for an apology.

Apology

An inquiry carried out for the Lib Dems by Alistair Webster QC concluded there was broadly credible evidence he had violated the women’s personal space, and said the peer should apologise.

He refused to do that and was suspended in January for bringing his party into disrepute. In his letter, he apologised “sincerely” and said any “intrusion” by him “would have been inadvertent”.

Ms Goldsworthy told Channel 4 News on Thursday that if Lord Rennard had apologised earlier, “then things may be very different”. But the fact it had taken so long for him to do so meant he should be expelled.

A friend of Lord Rennard insisted the peer would have apologised sooner if he had been allowed to see the Webster report in full.