Tim Farron

[fiction-factory]

I'm surprised there have been no threads on Tim Farron's resignation tonight as Lib Dem leader. It sounded to me he is saying it's because of the way the media is focusing too much on his Christanity. Is that the only reason do we think?

[anneasquith]

In truth I took no notice of the news from TF, what a strange day to resign though in the middle of such a horrible day for London,?

[Ann]

//Farron is basically a nice chap, but really isn't cut out for the nastier side of British politics. I wish him well in his future activities. //

I agree with Mikey. Although I'm not a Lib Dem voter I felt really sorry for him being hounded everywhere he went with people trying to question his Christian beliefs all the time. They weren't that interested - they were just trying to trip the poor man up. Why can't Christians be entitled to their own views according to their faith without being criticised and sneered at by others who do not agree.

[saintpeter48]

He always sounded like a patronising git to me, with views far from in keeping with 2017.

[sp1814]

jourdain2

Gay couples cannot have a Christian marriage in the UK. The law specifically excludes this.

Gay couples can however, have a civil marriage outside the church. Nothing to do with Christianity at all.

[douglas9401]

"Gay couples cannot have a Christian marriage in the UK."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40190204

[naomi24]

I saw him interviewed a little while ago about his faith. It made uncomfortable watching. However, he hasn’t quit politics so if his faith conflicts with popular opinion simply resigning as leader doesn’t solve the problem and therefore I don’t think his commitment to his faith is the only reason.

[Kromovaracun]

Sorry but I cannot share in the sympathy being expressed for him. Being a politician means you get scrutinised, and if you're going to lead a liberal party with a private belief that homosexuality is wrong, then you really cannot complain.

I've met Vice Cable and consider him credible and intelligent. If only he were somewhere more useful.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Although I'm not a Lib Dem voter I felt really sorry for him being hounded everywhere he went with people trying to question his Christian beliefs all the time. ///

I agree with Ann on this one, except to add that if he had happened to follow the Islamic religion, no one would have dared question him.

[mikey4444]

AOG...rubbish, and well done for bringing in the Muslim angle into this debate !

[naomi24]

Mikey, aog's right though.

[sp1814]

AOG

Don't you think the bigger problem was that Mr Farron was the leader of the Lib Dems, a party with a very liberal and progressive platform?

If Tim were the leader of the DUP, or a UKIP councillor whilst his beliefs would be slated, it wouldn't be a serious issue in terms of his relationship with his party and his faith.

[sp1814]

AOG

For comparison - let's think about a Muslim leader of equally high statue to Tim Farron.

Say...Sadique Khan.

In the run up to his mayoral bid, he was questioned on his attitude to gay people, and he clearly and unequivocally proved an ally. And his voting record supported that.

Farron's issue is that he dodged the question.

Repeatedly.

And at that point the press smelled blood.

This is what the press is for - testing politicians for signs of hypocrisy.

[naomi24]

//Farron's issue is that he dodged the question. //

A lie would have had him off the hook. No more questions.

[anneasquith]

Maybe politics is not for him ? Took a while to find out though !!!!!

[Kromovaracun]

//If Tim were the leader of the DUP, or a UKIP councillor whilst his beliefs would be slated, it wouldn't be a serious issue in terms of his relationship with his party and his faith.//

I'm not sure I agree, sp. When UKIP were still relevant, they were constantly getting exposed in the press for homophobia/racism. And quite rightly. Homophobia should not be acceptable in a modern society.

Also, I agree with AOG. Prominent Muslims are not sufficiently challenged over their religion's disdain for gay people, and they should be. Sadiq Khan, of course, was asked about it prior to the mayoral elections, but as a general rule of thumb I think the point about disparity does hold up.

[youngmafbog]

I dont think it's his beliefs per se, I am sure there are probably millions in the country who would agree with him. The issue is in having those beliefs whilst running a Party that is clearly in contention with them.

[ToraToraTora]

As above, many politicians are christians in varying degrees of devotion to their book of fairy tales. No doubt privately some also take the biblical line on homosexuality but as soon as you demonstrate anything less than what is the, right on, allowable view, the media focus on nothing else and you have to go. Farron's problem was he was too honest, he should have just given the acceptable answer to early questions and not volunteered further comment then it would have gone away and he could focus on political issues.

[sp1814]

youngmafbog

Yep - I think that's pretty much spot on.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Could Sadique Khan be living a lie?

/// In fact, a 2009 poll by Gallup found that British Muslims have zero tolerance towards homosexuality. “None of the 500 British Muslims interviewed believed that homosexual acts were morally acceptable,” the Guardian reported in May that year. ///

http://www.newstatesman.com/mehdi-hasan/2013/05/muslim-i-struggle-idea-homosexuality-i-oppose-homophobia

[sp1814]

Yes, he could be living a lie - but whilst that's possible, it's not probable. I think we all need to accept that there are both fundamentalist Muslims, and then there are very progressive Muslims.

Looking at Khan's voting record coupled with his public statements, I believe him to be the latter. He's offered no evidence of being the former.

...apologies to fiction-factory - I don't want to turn your thread into another one about Muslims.