Party members clash with Clegg

Nick Clegg was involved in a bad-tempered clash with Liberal Democrat activists over so-called secret courts legislation and benefits changes tonight.

The Deputy Prime Minister was accused of abandoning the party's values during a question and answer session.

Activists challenged Mr Clegg over the Justice and Security Bill, which would allow courts to sit in secret in some civil cases, with one Lib Dem member questioning why he had "abandoned the high ground" by engaging with the proposals.

Another said: "How can we call ourselves a Liberal Democratic party any more if we vote for this legislation?"

However, the party leader said the intelligence services were currently unable to defend themselves in some civil court cases because they could not disclose sensitive material. He also stressed that many changes had already been made to the original proposals.

Nick Clegg tried to rally delegates at the Liberal Democrats conference today, after weeks of bruising scandals.

The deputy Prime Minister called the disgraced former MP Chris Huhne an "outstanding" and "effective" politician, despite the fact he could be sent to jail next week.

Tensions within the coalition were also on display.

ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener reports:

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, Vince Cable said it was crucial to invest in skills that drive the economy.

Vince Cable has renewed his call for billions of pounds more infrastructure investment funded by higher borrowing, saying the Government had to "really get moving".

The Business Secretary admitted there were dangers in pushing up the Government's debt in an effort to kickstart the economy. But he insisted the balance of risks seemed to be changing and ministers had to be open minded.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has revealed more about his "not easy conversations" with the Lib Dems' former chief executive Lord Rennard over allegations of sexual impropriety.

In an article for Lib Dem Voice, Mr Alexander, who was then Nick Clegg's Chief of Staff in 2008, said that Jo Swinson told him about "deeply troubling" concerns expressed to her privately:

• Watch: Jo Swinson tells ITV News: I did take those issues seriously

The equalities minister Jo Swinson has revealed details for the first time of how she handled claims of sexual impropriety involving the Lib Dems' former chief executive Lord Rennard.

She told the party's spring conference that "a number of women" had confided in her about alleged incidents several years ago.

Their "shared objective" with her had been to make sure the alleged behaviour stopped in future, Mrs Swinson said.

She added: "Of course, I did not name names when I spoke to people in the leader's office about these claims."

Danny Alexander, then Mr Clegg's chief of staff, met Lord Rennard, who denied the allegations and continues to deny them.

Mrs Swinson said she had told the women what action had been taken and encouraged them to come forward again if there were issues in future.

"I have not heard any account of inappropriate behaviour subsequent to the action that I and Danny took," she added.

Watch: Jo Swinson tells ITV News: I did take those issues seriously

I just asked a Lib Dem member if she felt let down by the handling of the Lord Rennard allegations.

She replied: "I've been told to say no comment."

The party's former chief executive has strongly denied all the claims against him.

The Lib Dem women and equalities minister Jo Swinson has told ITV News she took the complaints about former chief executive Lord Rennard seriously.

She told political correspondent Libby Wiener: "I did take those issues seriously...This is an issue which is very sensitive, very important to the people that confined in me."

But she refused to answer whether the party's leadership knew about those complaints.

Two inquiries have been set up by the party to look at the specific allegations against Lord Rennard and the wider party processes.

Lord Rennard has strongly denied all the claims against him.

Read more: Jo Swinson's statement on Lord Rennard