The Guardian reported Tuesday that three party-member adjudicators decided, after receiving legal advice, that a fresh review of the Rennard case would require additional evidence.
The Guardian said the party had asked three independent adjudicators, all Liberal Democrat members, to reassess Rennard’s conduct. The request followed advice that the party’s 2013 investigation into complaints from four women had been flawed in several respects. The panel reached its conclusion after taking legal advice, according to the report.
Party leader Ed Davey suspended Rennard when the inquiry reopened earlier this year. Davey said he was “disappointed and upset” by the outcome and that the complainants had been let down by the earlier inquiry. He expressed confidence that the party’s current process would handle a similar new complaint differently.
Rennard called for the complaint to be published in full and said the renewed investigation should not have taken place. He said police and independent inquiries had investigated and dismissed the allegations in 2013-14.
A 2013 review by Alistair Webster KC described the evidence as broadly credible, but put the chance of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt at less than 50%, The Guardian reported. The review considered evidence about conduct affecting the complainants’ personal space and autonomy. Rennard’s solicitor, Richard Cannon, said the renewed complaint was legally flawed from the start.
