Sutton and Cheam's MP says he deeply regrets his role in the handling of sexual harassment allegations within the Liberal Democrat party.

Paul Burstow has been highlighted in a report detailing a catalogue of errors in the handling of allegations made against former Lib Dem Chief Executive Lord Chris Rennard.

Four women in the Liberal Democrats claim Lord Rennnard sexually harassed them in 2007. Following the claims, which came to light earlier this year, business woman Helena Morrissey was asked to conduct a full review into the way the allegations were handled within the party.

The report, published today, singles Mr Burstow out for his failure to act to take the claims to more senior party officials when he was told about them.  

Mr Burstow was the party's Chief Whip in 2007 making him the first port of call for people wishing to make any complaints about other party members.

Two of the four women, identified in the report as Miss G and Miss H, went to him in May 2007 to complain about Lord Rennard's alleged actions towards them but he did not take the complaints any further.

A statement made by Miss H published in the report says: "He listened carefully and then asked how we would like to proceed.

"I told him that I did not know what the options were regarding disciplinary procedures, but that the matter was of great concern to me and I was therefore willing to do whatever it took to resolve the matter, up to and including going to court.

"We left believing we had started a grievance process of some kind but I never heard back from Paul Burstow."

Mr Burstow provided a statement for the report which says he did not believe the women wanted to make a formal complaint.

He said: "Had it been clear that a formal complaint was being made, I would have felt able and obliged to take the matter up with the party president and speak to the then-Chief of Staff Archie Kirkwood.

"I deeply regret that I did not ask Miss G and Miss H to make a formal complaint. This was a lapse of judgement on my part."

Mr Burstow apologised to Miss H when the allegations came to light in February this year. Miss H accepted his apology.

Ms Morrissey concluded: "This was a missed opportunity to investigate the allegations very early on. the Chief Whip is obviously a key disciplinarian in the party and I believe that Paul Burstow genuinely did not think the women wanted to take the matter further.

"However, even if that was his read of the situation at the time, given the seriousness of the allegations and Rennard's role in the party, for the sake of all concerned and as he subsequently realised, he should have taken the issue to the President."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is among other party members criticised in the report. He has promised to implement all the report's recommendations.