Lib Dems suspend member over scandal

Britain’s Liberal Democrats have suspended the party membership of an MP over fresh allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Liberal Democrats announced on Wednesday that they were withdrawing the membership of Mike Hancock, the MP for Portsmouth South, after the leak of a document detailing the allegations.

The report conducted by Nigel Pascoe QC for Portsmouth City council, found “compelling” evidence that the 67-year-old lawmaker was guilty of “serious and unwelcome sexual behavior” towards a vulnerable woman constituent back in 2009.

“Given Nigel Pascoe QC’s conclusions in his report [into allegations of sexual impropriety], we have immediately suspended Mike Hancock’s membership of the party,” said a Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Hancock, who currently sits in the House of Commons as an independent MP, voluntarily resigned the Lib Dem parliamentary whip in June last year to contest the sexual assault allegations in a High Court civil action.

The junior party to the UK’s current coalition government has already suspended Lord Chris Rennard over sexual allegations dating back to 2007.

On Monday, the party announced it was suspending Lord Rennard’s membership, pending an inquiry into claims that he brought the Liberal Democrats into disrepute by refusing to apologize to victims who alleged he sexually harassed them.