Ex-Lib Dem activist says she was told to ignore being 'touched up' by senior member to further her career
2 min read
The Liberal Democrats were dragged into the Westminster sexual harassment scandal last night as a former activist claimed she was told to keep quiet after being "touched up" by a fellow member.
Kavya Kaushik, a former Lib Dem candidate and youth leader, said she was touched on the thigh by the member but told to continue canvassing with him as it would “further her career”.
It is the first public allegation about the party since the scandal around sexual abuse engulfed Westminster.
Last night the furore took its first scalp as Michael Fallon resigned as defence secretary over his inappropriate behaviour in the past.
Ministers Damian Green and Mark Garnier are also under investigation by the Cabinet Office and Labour is assessing a claim a rape was covered up.
Ms Kaushik – who stood as the Lib Dem candidate in Ealing Southall in 2015 – recounted her ordeal to the Daily Telegraph.
"In one of my experiences I told someone in the Lib Dems I couldn’t go canvassing with [a senior party member] because he’d previously touched me up,” she said.
"The response? 'We all know you’d do anything to further your career. Go out on a round with him.'"
She added: "The big deal with this is that someone then said that because I was ambitious, that it was allowed.
“It was a justification for wrongdoing, rather than someone saying 'let's go through the proper procedures and report this', which is what someone in power should be doing.
"She instead made a comment that I was ambitious and I should get on with it."
Meanwhile former senior Lib Dem Alison Goldsworthy has recounted how she faced a backlash when she spoke out about alleged sexual abuse by Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard.
“When I was a 21-year-old candidate, Rennard had shoved his hands down my knickers. (He continues to deny this),” she wrote in the New Statesman.
“Despite being one of many women to come forward, a tsunami of incompetence by the Lib Dems resulted in all those who publicly complained leaving politics.
“Meanwhile, Lord Rennard continues to pass legislation, and pose for pictures with politicians who should know better.”
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