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The House of Commons would "clear out ... very fast" if "every MP who has never quite told the truth" was removed, said Sir Malcolm Bruce.

The senior Liberal Democrat was defending the actions of ex-Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael.

Mr Carmichael is facing calls to resign after admitting he backed the leaking of a memo during the election campaign incorrectly suggesting Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron as prime minister.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland said previously he had not been aware of it.

Mr Carmichael, who held off the SNP to regain his seat by 817 votes, will not face any disciplinary action by the Scottish Liberal Democrats following a meeting of its executive on Sunday.

Sir Malcolm - who was an MP for 30 years until retiring at the election - said the MP had been wrong but said lying was common in public life.