How long before someone mentions Operation Yewtree?

Horrible bastard, who will probably do more damage to the Lib Dems than anything the arselicking little turncoat Clegg has managed in the last few years.

Looks like a young Uncle Monty and appears to have a similar approach to seeking sex.

But they're asking him to apologise for something that they've investigated and failed to find enough evidence that he did?

Not exactly Mr Ripper. The police couldn't find enough evidence to prosecute for anything criminal but there is lots of evidence of inappropriate behaviour, of the sort that the LibDems don't want people getting up to, and they'd like him to apologise for that.

Looks like he's had legal advice that an apology might be taken as an admission of guilt and lead to further coplaints or investigations. Don't see why that should be the case. Maybe the fact that 'sources close to' him are talking about fighting a legal case if he is expelled from the party suggests that this is all about a power struggle?

That's not how I read it.

My understanding was that there was some evidence that he might have done something (principally the allegations and other uncorroborated stuff) but not enough substantiated evidence that he had actually done what he was being accused of, and the LibbyDemmys wanted him to apologise for any behaviour of his that although not proven to be inappropriate may or may not have caused some level of offence to either the people making the unproven allegations or others who may have been offended on their behalf whether or not they had any reason to be justifiably offended or whether there was any proven inappropriate behaviour or not.

The allegations are hardly of the level to create such a shit storm.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... t-him.html

Especially the last one on that list where he just looks like a sad old chap who is crap with women trying to get a nosh and not some sort of rapey BBC employee nonce.

I share BT's interpretation; not enough evidence for a criminal conviction (although the police haven't decided this (or the CPS) but an 'independent review') but enough to show that he's not a nice man.

But I also share R's point; if there's not enough evidence to convict, why should he apologise. For me, the LibDems are playing politics here (and there's no surprise in this - all the parties do it). It's a common tactic to push out someone who's generating negative headlines, whatever the underlying truth of the matter. Campbell used to have a 'time limit' on how long a story could be in the news; more than a few days of negative headlines and the subject of those headlines just had to go.

Let's be honest, the accusation is that he's an odious man; I've met enough politicians in my time to know that he's not alone in that.

He has groped a few women and been a bit of a sleazeball - isn't that what DLT is in court for? I'm not sure the police have been involved as yet. Is it ok for politicians but not for DJs?

The Fatman will know more about this than I do* but...

An allegation that uninvited hands were put inside clothing, particularly in areas such as the groin and chest amounts to an allegation of sexual assault.

An allegation that uninvited knee, arm or back touching took place amounts to inappropriate behaviour. If a senior employee did this to a number of junior employees they'd deserve the sack or a serious warning because it is a real abuse of the power their position gives them. It isn't criminal though.

*I mean he'll know more because of his knowledge of the law rather than any experience he might have of inappropriate touching in the workplace. I have no idea what he does or doesn't do at work but I bet rennarding isn't one of his foibles.

As a youth he used to weep in butchers!

If he really didn't do what has been alleged, why isn't he trying to sue the women who have come forward?

Probably cos he wants to put it behind him.....ooooh err

Spot on. Travis is accused of indecent assault and sexual assault. Some of his alleged victims were as young as 15 or 17 at the time. I say 'alleged' because he is at least getting a trial and there'll be a verdict in due course.

For all the coy bollox in the Torygraph about 'touching me in places where I didn't want to be touched' the only concrete allegation against Rennard that I've seen is that he touched a woman on her trouser leg. Inappropriate behaviour and an abuse of position certainly, but if any of those Lib Dem women feel it was more than that they only have to make a complaint to the police, who will be in like Flint, as they always are when there's a lot of publicity.

What is happening at the minute is trial by media. As one Tory MP has said, it's a sex case without any sex.

The trouble is, post-Savile, the burden of proof is in danger of being discarded in any case where there's more than one complainant. The horrible old pervert is buggering the justice system from beyond the grave.

Mebbes if he'd been pulled up about it when formal complaints were made about him within the Lib Dem party then it wouldn't have got to this stage. The same applies to all the creepy 'entertainers' who were allowed to carry on abusing in the face of allegations to the BBC/NHS/Police etc.