The small earthquake that is the resignation of Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, was presaged yesterday by Lord Paddick resigning from his position as the party's Home Affairs spokesman. It seems that this had everything to do with Tim Farron’s “views” on homosexuality and abortion. Then came the bigger news that Mr Farron was resigning. The Guardian report tells us:
Farron issued a statement on Wednesday night saying he felt “remaining faithful to Christ” was incompatible with leading his party. It is understood several senior figures in the party had visited Farron in recent days to attempt to persuade him to step down, though he was initially reluctant.
“From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith. I’ve tried to answer with grace and patience. Sometimes my answers could have been wiser.
“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,” he said in a televised statement.
“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.”
