Lord Rennard quizzed over sexual harassment claims

Lord Rennard voluntarily attended a south London police station today. Picture: PA

FORMER Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard has been interviewed under caution by police investigating allegations of sexual impropriety.

Scotland Yard in February began looking into whether any criminal activity had taken place. Police said a 52-year-old man had voluntarily attended a London police station, by appointment on Sunday.

Lord Rennard’s solicitors said in a statement: “We can confirm that Lord Rennard agreed to meet with the police and that he welcomed his first opportunity to refute the basis of allegations made against him.”

A number of women have accused the peer of abusing his position by inappropriately touching and propositioning them between 2003 and 2007.

Lord Rennard, who was also a key strategist and adviser to a succession of party leaders, denies the allegations.

But he temporarily stood aside from the Lib Dem group in the Lords to avoid “embarrassment” to the party.

An independent inquiry commissioned by the party in the wake of the allegations last week criticised the way party leader Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, and two other Lib Dem ministers, Danny Alexander and Jo Swinson, both Scottish MPs, dealt with the allegations.

Businesswoman Helena Morrissey, who conducted the inquiry, said that there should have been a formal investigation launched when his alleged victims first came forward.

In February it emerged that a number of woman activists and party workers had made allegations of unwanted advances, but when they reported the claims they said little action had been taken.

The peer has been a key figure in the Lib Dems, becoming the party’s campaigns and elections director from 1989 and was credited with boosting its campaigning strategy.

He became chief executive in 2003 but resigned in 2009 due to health issues and was made a peer.

The independent inquiry found Mr Clegg “should have asked more questions” when claims – which the peer denies – arose.

The report revealed that some people Ms Morrissey questioned thought the Lib Dems, and politics in general, was “struggling to genuinely develop an encouraging environment for women”.

The report also said former leader Charles Kennedy’s “relatively relaxed management style”, comparedwith his predecessor Lord Ashdown’s, “contributed to Chris Rennard’s power base”.

Former chief whip Paul Burstow was the first senior figure to be made aware of specific allegations against Lord Rennard in May 2007.

“He did not believe that the women were seeking formal action and believed that they wished to remain anonymous,” Ms Morrissey said.

Her report added: “He now deeply regrets that he did not ask them to make a formal complaint or discuss the allegations with the then party president.”

The same two women went to see East Dunbartonshire MP Ms Swinson after meeting Mr Burstow, who made “further discreet inquiries”.