Rennard claim woman hints at action

21 January 2014 Last updated at 05:54 GMT

Lord Rennard row: Harassment claim woman hints at action

Bridget Harris worked as an adviser to Nick Clegg

A woman who says she was harassed by former Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard has refused to rule out taking legal action against him.

Bridget Harris said any decision to sue would depend on future circumstances.

Lord Rennard, who denies the harassment claims, was suspended by the party after he refused to apologise, saying it would be an admission of guilt.

Meanwhile, veteran party campaigner Lord Greaves has warned the row could damage the party for years.

'Broadly credible'

Lord Rennard, a former Lib Dem chief executive, resigned the party whip last year amid claims that he had made unwanted sexual advances to several women and touched them inappropriately.

The party carried out an internal investigation led by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC, who concluded they could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

But he also said the evidence of the four women who lodged complaints was "broadly credible" and urged the peer to apologise.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had also suggested Lord Rennard should apologise as a matter of "basic decency".

Lord Rennard said he felt "regret" if he had unintentionally "hurt" any women but would not apologise for something he "had not done".

In a 2,600 word statement, he said he had suffered from "severe stress, anxiety and depression" as a result of the allegations.

The Lib Dems have suspended the peer from the party while it investigates whether he has brought it into disrepute by refusing to apologise. This prompted a further statement issued on behalf of Lord Rennard that said he was now "having to take legal advice with a view to civil action against the party".

'Chucking missiles'

Ms Harris, who worked as an adviser to Mr Clegg but has quit the party, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme "of course" she would not rule out future legal action against Lord Rennard.

"We're taking the process one step at a time," she said.

"In terms of civil action, how can I possibly say that I, what I would or wouldn't do, depending on the circumstances."

She continued: "What I'm really interested in is getting back to the core point, which is: I'm very glad now that the party has recognised that, as women, and the complaints that we've made, we've been listened to.

"They've been acknowledged and the party leadership has been prepared to, essentially, back our position, which is that we are owed an apology and it isn't tenable for Lord Rennard to remain a member of the Lib Dems for as long these allegations and this cloud hangs over him."

But speaking on BBC Newsnight Lord Greaves said the party had divided into different factions that were now "chucking missiles at each other".

"We're being told that Lord Rennard may be taking legal action, Bridget Harris says she may be taking legal action," he said. "This is a nightmare."

If the issues were not solved, he said, "it is going to produce fault lines and schisms in the party which will last for years".

Although Lord Rennard has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats, he can still attend Parliament and vote in Lords debates as an independent peer.