When a review of Lambeth Council’s committee structure proposed putting a councillor who had been arrested  on charges of sexual assault, exposure and controlling and coercive behaviour on a committee that investigates wrongdoing, Lib Dem leader of the opposition Cllr Donna Harris was having none of it.

Donna, who is the chair of  Lib Dem Women, the official body in the Lib Dems representing women, led the efforts to get this stopped. For a week she tried, unsuccessfully, to block the move behind the scenes.

However, when the appointments came to Council recently, she spoke against them and they were ultimately rejected unanimously.

Donna said that the appointmentsent the wrong message to every woman who expects our public institutions to be safe and fair:

I stand here today not only as a councillor, but also as the national party’s Chair of Liberal Democrat Women.
And I must say — clearly and firmly — that what I’m about to raise cannot be ignored.

This must be addressed on behalf of women everywhere who expect their councils to act with integrity, accountability, and respect.

The proposal to offer the independent member a seat on the Investigating Committee is deeply concerning.
It sends entirely the wrong message — to residents, to council staff, and to every woman who expects our public institutions to be safe and fair.

The independent member has been charged by police and faces a pending court case.
I fully recognise, as we all must, that he is innocent until proven guilty.
But while those proceedings are ongoing, it is wholly inappropriate for him to be given a committee seat —
especially one responsible for investigating the conduct of others.

Over the past week I’ve tried everything to prevent this, putting forward constructive alternatives.

The administration may say the current position is lawful — but laws can and should change.

Let’s be clear: this is not about prejudice.

It’s about safeguarding — about protecting the reputation of this council, maintaining public confidence, and ensuring everyone who works in or visits the Town Hall feels safe and respected.

We cannot ask residents to trust our processes if we fail to uphold the most basic principles of accountability.

People in authority must meet the highest standards, and the council must be seen to take allegations of this nature seriously — whatever the eventual court outcome.

Too often, institutions have looked the other way.

We cannot repeat those mistakes.

That’s why I’m calling not only for this appointment to be reconsidered, but for a review of our constitution — to introduce clear, consistent safeguarding protocols for any elected member charged with a serious offence.

Lambeth can and should lead the way, setting a national standard.

Council — it is in your hands to be compassionate and principled.

Show that fairness is not complacency, and that safeguarding and justice go hand in hand.

Council — this is our test.
Choose integrity.
Choose safeguarding.
Choose to stand with women and all our residents.
Or choose the whip.

This is not the first time a Lib Dem woman has taken on the establishment to ensure that this sort of thing cannot happen. Last year, our Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain led a successful attempt to ensure that any MP arrested for a sex offence should be banned from attending Parliament. She defeated a government attempt to make being charged the threshold. The vote was very close – 170-169.

The BBC reported at the time:

Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain, who proposed the amendment to change the threshold to arrest, said this would align Parliament with other workplaces.

“As a former police officer… arrest on suspicion doesn’t just take place on basis of an allegation,” she told the Commons.

“Yes, some vexatious complaints do occur but what message do we send from this place if we say that our concern for this is actually more important than safeguarding?”

Her proposal was supported by other opposition MPs, as well as eight Conservatives, including former prime minister Theresa May, Laura Farris, the victims and safeguarding minister, and chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee Caroline Nokes.

We should all be very proud that this party has brilliant women like Donna and Wendy who are prepared to stand up for the rights and safety of women in public life.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social