LibDem leader Farron resigns saying: I’m torn between my faith and politics
TIM Farron resigned last night saying it was impossible for him to lead the Liberal Democrats and be a faithful Christian.
His views on gay sex and abortion became an issue throughout an underwhelming election campaign.
Mr Farron admitted that his statements on the controversial issues ‘could have been wiser’.
He had come under pressure to go after Brian Paddick, who is gay, quit the party yesterday, citing his leader’s views.
‘The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader,’ Mr Farron told members.
‘A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment.
‘To be a political leader – especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 – and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible’s teaching, has felt impossible for me.’
However, he insisted that the party had recovered since its 2015 near- wipeout, adding: ‘Against all the odds, the Liberal Democrats matter again.’
But he said he had felt the focus on his Christianity had diverted attention from the party’s campaign.
The Lib Dems had been expected to make headway after campaigning on an anti-Brexit platform that they hoped would appeal to Remain voters. But they managed to increase their seats only from eight to 12.
The party will now face a leadership election next month. Newly re- elected Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, the former equalities minister, is thought to be favourite.
Former business secretary Vince Cable might have been a contender, having been regained his Twickenham seat, yet has ruled himself out.
The party’s most recognised face, former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, lost his Sheffield Hallam seat in the election.
Rumours of a coup attempt began yesterday lunchtime after Lord Paddick quit.
The former police commander tweeted: ‘I’ve resigned as Lib Dem shadow home secretary over concerns about the leader’s views on various issues that were highlighted during the election.’ Mr Farron had repeatedly refused to answer whether he thought gay sex was a sin, telling journalists that his faith was a private matter.
Under pressure, he eventually said that it was not a sin, but refused to repeat the denial when asked subsequently.
Mr Farron has been questioned about his views on homosexuality ever since being elected Lib Dem leader almost two years ago. This was prompted in part by an interview in which, when asked if homosexuality was a sin, he responded: ‘We are all sinners.’
He was embarrassed further when an interview from ten years ago emerged in which he said that abortion was wrong.
In a further indication that Mr Farron was under pressure to step down, Lib Dem Lord Greaves said the election had been disastrous and the party should start again.
He criticised a statement issued after the election in which the party said it had been a good night because it had increased its MP count by 50 per cent.
Writing on the Liberal Democrat Voices blog, he said that the ‘ much-vaunted fightback in many areas had simply not happened’.
AN SNP MP who was accused of bullying the late Charles Kennedy has become the party’s new leader in Westminster.
Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber was once accused of ‘bullying and intimidatory behaviour’ towards the former Liberal Democrat leader.
He led a campaign called ‘Where’s Charlie’, to highlight what he called the MP’s ‘ poor voting record’.
In return, Mr Kennedy branded his rival, a former senior executive at Deutsche Bank, a ‘wellfunded banker from Edinburgh’.
Angered by the jibe, Mr Blackford arrived at Mr Kennedy’s campaign office and demanded that Mr Kennedy withdraw the allegation.
‘The party should start again’