Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said he regrets saying gay sex is not a sin.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP made the statement just two weeks before last year's election as he came under fire over his views on homosexuality.

Speaking to Premier Christian Radio on Wednesday, Mr Farron admitted he "foolishly and wrongly" caved into pressure when quizzed on his Christian beliefs.

APRIL: Farron dodges question about views on gay sex

Asked if he felt forced to say gay sex was not a sin, he replied: "The bottom line is of course I did. And there are things - including that - that I said that I regret…

"I, foolishly and wrongly, attempted to push it away by giving an answer that, frankly, was not right.


"There was a sense in which I felt 'I have got to get this off my table'."

:: Farron puts God before party

Shortly before the 2017 election, the Lib Dems said Mr Farron "makes no secret of his private faith but believes political leaders should not make theological pronouncements or declare what people's personal faith should be."

It added he spoke out because "whilst he does not believe politicians should declare what is or isn't sin, he was concerned some people were forming an impression of him that is not accurate".

Mr Farron eventually resigned as Lib Dem leader after finding himself "torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader".

In a speech to staff a week after the election, he said: "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."