A NUMBER of senior Liberal Democrat politicians, including leader Nick Clegg and ministers Danny Alexander and Jo Swinson, have been criticised for their handling of sexual harassment allegations against a senior party peer.
A report has found that Scots MPs Ms Swinson and Mr Alexander were wrong to adopt an informal approach.
Its author Helena Morrissey also said the LibDem leader should have ordered a formal inquiry into the claims against former chief executive Lord Rennard.
Her internal investigation also found evidence of "low level sexism" in the party. Mr Clegg said the report made for "sobering reading".
A number of women, such as former Aberdeen councillor Alison Smith, accused Lord Rennard of sexually harassing them. Police are looking into the claims.
A number of them approached the media this year, but the claims are thought to have emerged in 2007. That year two women went to see Ms Swinson.
Ms Morrissey found that, though Ms Swinson – MP for East Dunbartonshire – acted in good faith, she had not identified the women to Mr Clegg's then chief of staff Mr Alexander as she believed they wanted to remain anonymous.
Mr Alexander was "surprised" when told in spring 2008 and raised it with Mr Clegg and Mr Burstow. The peer was confronted and denied the allegations.
The report stated: "The issues were handled informally, principally by Jo Swinson and Danny Alexander, as that is what they thought the women wanted."
It added: "This approach was ultimately not sufficient."
The report recommends the party set up a pastoral care office to give complaint a higher priority. Mr Clegg said he would implement the recommendations. Lord Rennard said he would not comment until the police process was over.
Ms Swinson said: "This is an issue which is across society and does need to be dealt with and we all need to learn from that."
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