Watch Clegg Tells LBC 97 3 We Made 'Serious Mistakes' over Rennard Video.

The turmoil within Liberal Democrat ranks over Lord Rennard deepened last night after Nick Clegg admitted that allegations of sexual harassment were a factor in the peer's decision to quit as the party's chief executive.

To the dismay of MPs, the Deputy Prime Minister dramatically altered his explanation for Lord Rennard's surprise resignation in 2009, which had previously been blamed on ill health. His comments were rejected by the peer's friends, who said he had been warned by his doctors that he could be dead within a year unless he led a less stressful lifestyle.

And last night the party's most senior female politician, Baroness Williams of Crosby, spoke out in support of Lord Rennard, claiming the charges against him had been 'hopelessly exaggerated'.

The furore sparked by claims that Lord Rennard propositioned as many as 10 young Liberal Democrat activists has convulsed the party, raised fresh questions about Mr Clegg's leadership and hit its campaign for today's pivotal by-election in Eastleigh.

The peer has strenuously denied the claims and said he had never received a complaint about his conduct during his entire time with the party.

Quizzed yesterday about Lord Rennard's departure, Mr Clegg said: 'He left on health grounds but the issues of .