Three adjudicators tasked with reviewing past misconduct claims against Lord Rennard concluded that legal rules prevent reopening the case without fresh evidence. The decision halts renewed disciplinary proceedings despite party leadership's concerns that earlier reviews were flawed. Party leader Ed Davey expressed disappointment over the outcome and stated that the complainants were let down by the inability to reinvestigate. Meanwhile, Rennard maintained that the renewed probe was legally flawed and called for the full complaint to be published.
Key points
The Liberal Democrats cannot proceed with a renewed investigation into Lord Rennard witho…: The Liberal Democrats cannot proceed with a renewed investigation into Lord Rennard without additional evidence coming forward.
Ed Davey voiced significant frustration that procedural constraints prevented the party f…: Ed Davey voiced significant frustration that procedural constraints prevented the party from properly addressing the complainants' allegations.
Lord Rennard strongly criticized the party for spending nine months on an investigation t…: Lord Rennard strongly criticized the party for spending nine months on an investigation that his legal counsel argued was flawed from the start.
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The Liberal Democrat peer Chris Rennard has been told there will be no further investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against him, after an independent panel concluded it could not reopen the claim.
The party leader, Ed Davey, said he was “disappointed and upset” by the conclusion, having suspended Rennard from the party after an investigation was reopened earlier this year amid claims a previous inquiry was flawed.
Rennard said the complaint should now be published in full and said it made clear the reopened investigation should never have happened.
The Lib Dems had asked three independent adjudicators, who are party members, to reassess Rennard’s conduct after the party received advice that a 2013 investigation into the claims made by four women against the peer had been “flawed in several respects”.
But it is understood that, after taking legal advice, the panel concluded that without new evidence, the case could not be reopened. Rennard is a former chief executive of the party who was awarded a life peerage in 1999.
Davey has said previously he does not believe Rennard, 66,…
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