Clegg drawn into sex abuse dispute Nick Clegg has been drawn into allegations of sexual harassment in the Liberal Democrat party after admitting that his office was told in 2008 of concerns about their former election chief. The deputy prime minister said on Sunday night his advisers were given "indirect and non specific" information that Lord Rennard had behaved improperly towards female party activists, several of whom spoke out last week about his behaviour. Danny Alexander, then Mr Clegg's chief of staff and now Treasury chief secretary, put the claims to Lord Rennard, who categorically denied them. Mr Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, said: "As my office only received concerns indirectly and anonymously, as those involved understandably wanted to maintain their privacy, there was a limit to how we could take this matter forward following Chris Rennard's resignation." Mr Clegg insisted that he had not been told personally of the allegations, which were allegedly reported at the time to Jo Swinson, now the women's minister, and Paul Burstow, another Lib Dem MP. The party has announced two inquiries into the matter: one internal probe into the specific accusations and another with an independent chairman into why nothing was done about them. Ms Swinson and Mr Burstow have been criticised for not doing more when allegedly approached by at least one of the women named in a Channel 4 News investigation. Alison Smith, a former party activist, told the programme that she had approached Ms Swinson after being groped by the Lib Dem peer but no further action was taken. Lord Rennard has denied the allegations. His solicitors said on Friday: "Lord Rennard is deeply shocked by, and strongly disputes, the allegations made against him in the Channel 4 News broadcast on 21st February. He regards the report as a total distortion of his character. Mr Clegg now finds himself in the line of fire however. Conor Burns, a former parliamentary adviser in the coalition government, said: "If this is now so urgent and compelling that it commands the need for two enquiries, why did it not command the need for two, or even one inquiry when he was told about it years ago?" Mr Burns added: "This asks serious questions about Nick Clegg's competence and his judgment." The revelations come as the Lib Dems go into this week's Eastleigh by-election with polls suggesting they may have lost their lead in the race. A poll carried out for The Mail on Sunday by Survation showed the Conservatives four points ahead, reversing a trend of solid Lib Dem leads. Tensions within the coalition are likely to grow as campaigning enters its final few days before Thursday's vote, with both parties throwing everything at the contest. Senior Conservative ministers will visit the constituency over the next few days, including Michael Gove, education secretary, Liam Fox, former defence secretary, and Grant Shapps, party chairman.