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Nick Clegg: "I don't think he should rejoin the party in the House of Lords until he has made that apology"
Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard is set to rejoin the Lords despite party leader Nick Clegg's call for him to apologise over sexual harassment claims first.
Lord Rennard insists he has not done anything wrong and is threatening to take legal action against the party.
One Lib Dem who made claims against him has said she will quit if he is allowed to take his seat without apologising.
Mr Clegg said an inquiry found Lord Rennard had caused "distress" and saying sorry was "basic decency".
The peer also wants to return to a powerful Lib Dem policy committee - but a third of members say he should not.
The BBC has been told that 10 members of the Federal Policy Committee are writing to the group's chairman to say the peer is not welcome back.
The Lib Dem Regional Parties Committee is also set to meet to consider the possibility of further disciplinary action against the peer.
'Loud and clear'Lord Rennard resigned the party whip last year amid claims he made unwanted sexual advances to several women and touched them inappropriately.
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End QuoteOther parties would have eased Lord Rennard out a long time ago"
The allegations were investigated by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC, who concluded they could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
He said there was broadly credible evidence dating back several years of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants" and recommended the peer should apologise as a matter of "common manners".
But Lord Rennard says he cannot apologise for legal reasons, as it would be an admission of guilt.
His legal adviser Lord Carlile has warned that the peer will consider legal action against the party if the whip is not reinstated on Monday.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Clegg said he did not believe there were grounds for the issue to end up in court.
Mr Clegg said: "I think he should apologise just out of a matter of basic decency...
"That has been the recommendation of an independent formal process. It is very much the view I hold, the president of the party holds and many ordinary Liberal Democrats hold and that is why I don't think he should go and rejoin the party in the House of Lords until he has made that apology."
He added: "I have a duty of care not only to those women. I have a duty to ensure that those recommendations... are upheld and I have a duty to say loud and clear as leader of the Liberal Democrats that I expect everybody to treat each other with civility and dignity... particularly people in a position of authority."
Mr Clegg, who has not spoken to Lord Rennard since last week's report was published, said if the peer apologised and agreed to "change his behaviour" then it would be "quite reasonable" for him to return to all his roles in the party.
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today: "If he does not apologise and this goes on and on, of course further steps will have been taken and the party will want to think about what steps."
Party rules say it is for peers to decide whether to welcome him back, and Chief Whip Lord Newby and the party's leader in the House Lord Wallace could choose to suspend Lord Rennard.
However his fellow peers - many of whom are supportive - have the power to overturn that decision.
'Highly damaging'Lord Rennard also hopes to return to the Federal Policy Committee - but Gareth Epps, who sits on the group, said some of his colleagues would find it "very difficult" to work with the peer.
"I think what we need is for Chris to go away and reflect, and that may well mean that he needs to absent himself from the policy-making process for a while," he said.
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End Quote Gareth Epps Federal Policy CommitteeI think what we need is for Chris to go away and reflect, and that may well mean that he needs to absent himself from the policy-making process for a while"
He said the debate in recent days had been "highly damaging" and "very divisive" for the party.
"It would be much better if Chris apologised," he said.
A number of Lib Dems suggested over the weekend that Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise was bringing the party into disrepute. This could see a new disciplinary process, with Lord Rennard facing suspension again until it is complete.
Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies has backed Lord Rennard, likening the episode to the "Salem witch trials".
"It is completely out of proportion, nonsense and outrageous," he said.
But Bridget Harris, one of four party activists who made the allegations, said "whatever the accepted definition of disrepute is, I think that we've achieved it". She has resigned from the party, saying it is in an "absolute mess".
Susan Gaszczak, another of the women who made the original allegations, said she would consider resigning if the whip was restored.
But Lord Carlile has said it would be "quite wrong for Lord Rennard to apologise".
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