Nick Clegg has refused to say he will attend diversity training just a day after the Deputy Prime Minister and two of his ministers were criticised over their handling of sexual harassment allegations.

The courses on equality were one of the recommendations of an independent report into how the LibDems handled claims against the party's former chief executive Lord Rennard.

It was also critical of how the party leader and his ministers Danny Alexander and Jo Swinson reacted to concerns raised by activists.

On his weekly radio phone in, Mr Clegg declined five times to say that he would attend the training.

He said: "It's not a question of whether I or any individual... Is it right that in an organisation like the Liberal Democrats that you make those courses available?"

He added: "The most important thing for me is to make sure that we're open, take it on the chin and make sure those changes are implemented."