The Liberal Democrats have reprimanded former MP Paul Holmes for allegedly bullying Julia Cambridge, the party’s candidate for Chesterfield.
The constituency party has also been suspended following persistent reports that Holmes, the former MP, had tried to force out the selected candidate and had intimidated her into abandoning her battle to win back the seat for her party.
The decision to take action against Holmes is partly being attributed to Sal Brinton, the new party president, who took the formal complaint seriously and decided she would not allow the issue to be brushed under the carpet in the party’s complex disciplinary procedures.
An investigation will now be mounted into the conduct of the Chesterfield executive amidst allegations that executive members shouted at her and tried to force her out.
Holmes, a self-styled blunt northerner who has strong support in parts of the party, narrowly lost the seat in 2010 to Labour, and there had been an outside hope that the seat could be won back. A former fashion designer, Cambridge complained to the party that she had been subjected to bullying between January and June.
An independent investigator found there was a case to answer and following a panel hearing, Holmes was allegedly found to have bullied Cambridge.
Cambridge said: “I don’t wish to comment on the matter of bullying or how it has affected me or what the disciplinary panel has decided at this stage. But an investigation has found in my favour and upheld my complaint. I understand sanctions have occurred and they are subject to an appeal.”
One Lib Dem source said: “Julia has massive support from the membership. My God she is tough she can dig deep and proved she is courageous and resilient. She just refused to be forced out by a group of people that had turned against her”.
Holmes said he had no comment to make pending an appeal.
