Tim Farron was put under undue pressure

Sir, - Should our elected politicians be pressurised to declare where they stand on matters that relate to individuals and their private behaviour?

I was interested to see that Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron was hounded at his election meetings to declare whether he thought gay sex was a sin (April 26).

Although he stated at first that he was getting a bit tired of that line of questioning, he eventually stated that he did not think it was.

I could understand his frustration over the matter and agree with his point.

It is surely not the job of politicians to delve too deeply into matters of private morality or theology.

More than half a century ago Lord Wolfenden was asked by the government of the day to produce a report on the law and homosexual activity.

Some of the words of that report became famous such as “there must remain a realm of private morality that, in brief and crude terms, is none of the law’s business”.

He went on to declare that what happens between consenting adults in private should remain just that: private.

It is perhaps the job of politicians to try to ensure that the right to privacy and protection from victimisation is maintained.

It is not their role to try to justify on a public platform whether private sexual behaviour is sinful. Mr Farron came under undue pressure from the gay-rights lobby to state a personal position.

We are on very dangerous ground if we allow that method of campaigning to become part of standard political practice. Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.

Picture: Press Association. Tim Farron makes a public address on the campaign trail.