A HAMPSHIRE MP will be expelled from the Liberal Democrats, according to the party leader.

Nick Clegg said Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock had “no future” in the party and would be kicked out, one day after Mr Hancock issued a public apology to a vulnerable woman constituent for making inappropriate sexual advances towards her after she came to him for help.

Mr Clegg added: “I think it's very, very, very clear to me that he has no future as a member of the Liberal Democrats either, because he's apologised for causing immense distress to a vulnerable and innocent constituent of his."

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Nick Clegg said Mr Hancock had "no future" in the party

It came hours after the Deputy Prime Minister called on Mr Hancock to resign.

The former Lib Dem whip’s party membership had already been suspended before Mr Clegg said he should leave the party altogether.

Mr Clegg was forced to defend his failure to act sooner after the woman - known only as "Annie" - who suffers from mental health problems complained that the Lib Dem leader "turned a blind" after she contacted his office asking the party to investigate.

Mr Clegg acknowledged that a letter had been sent to Lib Dem headquarters in 2011, but said it had never been brought to his attention.

He said the party had taken no action at that time as Hampshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, which had both looked into the matter, had decided there was no basis on which to proceed.

"She is quite right to say back in 2011 something was sent to my office. It didn't reach me," he said.

"When I was given specific allegations early in 2013, I responded as promptly as anyone could reasonably that I should and Mike Hancock was suspended as an MP for the party."