The new Lib Dem leader Tim Farron refuses to say whether he believes gay sex is a sin

The new Lib Dem leader, who is a Christian, has been criticised for his stance on abortion and gay marriage. On Friday Channel 4's Cathy Newman asked him three times if he believed that gay sex was sinful.

By New Statesman

(Photo By The New Statesman endorsement for the Liberal Democrat leadership: Tim Farron, pictured here outside parliament. Photo: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Tim Farron has refused to say whether he believes gay sex is sinful. Asked three times by Channel 4 News’s Cathy Newman, the new Lib Dem leader said that he believed everyone was a sinner. “Perhaps the Bible phrase that I use most – particularly with my kids, but actually on myself – is ‘You don’t pick out the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye when there is a plank in your own’.”