by political editor Paul Francis

A prospective Liberal Democrat election candidate in Kent is facing criticism after saying the allegations against the party's chief executive were not a "Jimmy Savile case revisited."

Author and journalist Jasper Gerard was adopted as the party's candidate for Maidstone and Weald at the weekend.

In an interview with the BBC's "World At One" about the party's investigations into allegations against Lord Rennard, he acknowledged they were serious claims, but suggested they were being over-exagerated.

He said: "We should not be treating this as a major, major crisis. It is something that is unfortunate but it is being blown out of all proportion."

"We need to take some kind of degree of proportion about this. It seems like it was a bit of inappropriate behaviour... a clumsy pass, which I am not remotely defending."

@alifionasmith inappropriate sexual behaviour nvr acceptablemy remarks misconstrued certainly not impugning integrity of any woman in this

— jasper gerard (@jaspergerard) february 26, 2013

"We are still going on about whether somebody did or did not put their hand on somebody's knee. This is not a Jimmy Savile case revisited."

He told the KM Group his comments had been misconstrued. "I certainly was not trying to belittle the women who have come forward and who, regardless of thev results of the inquiry, have done a very brave thing in coming forward. I am sorry if my remarks were misconstrued."

"we need to take some kind of degree of proportion about this. it seems like it was a bit of inappropriate behaviour... a clumsy pass" – jasper gerard

He also queried in the radio interview why the allegations had surfaced just ahead of the crucial Eastleigh by-election and described events as an "Edwardian melodrama."

"As a journalist I was always told to ask: why are we being told about this? Who benefits from it?"

He later clarified his comments, posting on Twitter that he had not meant to question those making the claims.

In a tweet, he said: "Inappropriate sexual behaviour never acceptable. My remarks were misconstrued. Certainly not impugning integrity of any women who comes forward".

However, Alison Smith, one of the women making allegations against Lord Rennard tweeted: "Hoping that Jasper Gerard will be de-selected for those comments."

Mr Gerard, 45, was selected to contest what the party regards as a potentially winnable seat at a meeting in Coxheath Village Hall on Saturday.

He is a former chief interviewer for The Sunday Times and Times leader writer and has been a speech writer for previous party leaders.

He was born and brought up in the Weald, lives near Tunbridge Wells and is married with two children.

He succeeds Peter Carroll as the candidate, who cut the Conservative majority to just under 6,000 at the last election.

He said he would focus his campaign on whether Helen Grant was the right person to be MP amid high-profile allegations concerning her expenses.