I think it is possibly a mistake to contrast the way Labour and LibDem dealt with similar issues of a comment by a member. You have to add a healthy dose of cynicism: we are in an election period now and LibDem do not want that to be a story - they are well aware of the distraction that "gay sex" row is having on their party and they have no wish to start another hare running. The action may well have far morw to do with campaign management than the rights and wrongs of the case.