Lord Rennard quizzed by police over harassment

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Lord Rennard
Image caption,
Lord Rennard attended a police station by appointment

Former Lib Dem chief executive Lord Rennard has been interviewed under caution by police investigating allegations of sexual impropriety.

Scotland Yard began looking into whether any criminal activity had taken place in February.

Police said on Sunday a 52-year-old man had voluntarily attended a London police station, by appointment.

Lord Rennard's solicitors said he "welcomed his first opportunity to refute the basis" of the allegations.

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 Dems' 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 and two other Lib Dem ministers, Danny Alexander and Jo Swinson dealt with the claims.

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.