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Lib Dem peer accused of sexual harassment dropped from fundraiser in U-turn

Lord Rennard had been due to appear at party event next month

Kate Devlin
Whitehall Editor
Friday 05 June 2020 17:12 BST
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Lid Dem acting leader Sir Ed Davey blames Jeremy Corbyn and Conservative scare campaign for seat losses in general election

A Liberal Democrat peer accused of sexual harassment will not speak at a party fundraiser after a U-turn.

Advertising for the event described Lord Rennard as the man responsible for a series of “spectacular by-election victories that rescued his party's fortunes”.

It did not mention the allegations, by four women, which surfaced in 2013.

Lord Rennard has now been dropped from the fundraiser, following anger from Lib Dem members and one of his accusers.

The row comes amid fears some in the Lib Dems want to bring Lord Rennard back into the fold, because of his expertise in winning elections.

The Independent reported earlier today that Worcester Lib Dems had advertised a virtual talk and Q&A with Lord Rennard on Wednesday 1 July. Members who wanted to take part were asked to pay £10 for a ticket.

It is understood that the local party initially stuck to its guns and wanted to proceed with the peer as the speaker, despite the outcry.

But it eventually accepted an offer from Mark Pack, the party’s president, to speak instead.

A spokesperson for the Worcester Liberal Democrats said: “While we organised the event with the best of intentions, on reflection we will no longer have Lord Rennard speaking.”

One of the women who accused Lord Rennard, Bridget Harris, a former senior aide to ex-Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, said the invitation smacked of some in the party trying to carry on “as if nothing ever happened”.

She said: "If ever there was an supreme example of a political elite getting away with it, it is Lord Rennard's continual presence in the Liberal Democrats.

“There is no excuse for the current acting leader, Ed Davey, to ignore what is going on - the slow gaslighting of local parties to 'move on' and accept Lord Rennard back into the fold as if nothing ever happened. It's a stain on the reputation of the party and why I left it.”

Sources close to Mr Davey say it was his office which intervened to facilitate a replacement for Lord Rennard.

Lib Dem leadership candidate Layla Moran said she welcomed the decision. “It’s right for all organisations within the Liberal Democrats to consider the feelings of the brave women that came forward with complaints,” she added.

Another leadership candidate Wera Hobhouse said: “I wouldn’t have invited Chris Rennard to an event, and I think this decision was ill advised. I’m pleased to see the local party has dropped him from their event.”

An inquiry by Alistair Webster, QC, in 2014 found that there was "broadly credible" evidence that Lord Rennard had violated the "personal space and autonomy" of several of the party’s female activists.

He added that the high burden of proof required by Lib Dem party rules meant that he could take no disciplinary action against the peer, however, a move that prompted an angry response from members.

Lord Rennard has always denied the allegations against him.

The Metropolitan Police decided that there was insufficient evidence to pursue any of the allegations against the peer.

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