Tim Farron “absolutely supports equality”

Tim Farron, the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he is “passionate about LGBT-plus rights” and has pledged to put marriage equality “at the top of [his] agenda”, the BBC reported.

Farron, 45, was announced as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats on Thursday. He replaced Nick Clegg, who resigned after the party’s dismal showing in the May general election.

Farron is upfront about his Christian faith and has been accused of being “illiberal” when it comes to LGBT issues. During a Channel 4 interview with Cathy Newman, he was asked three times whether he thought gay sex was a sin. Farron dodged the question three times.

“To understand Christianity is to understand that we are all sinners,” Farron replied.

He has also been criticised for abstaining from a vote on gay marriage in 2013, at the third reading of same-sex marriage legislation, despite having voted for it previously.

But Farron assured the BBC’s Andrew Marr that he “absolutely supports equality”. He said, “I am absolutely in favour of equal access under the law for all people, whatever their sexuality.”

Part of his agenda as leader of the Lib Dem party, he said, defending equal marriage and extending the law to include transgender people’s marital rights.

Watch Farron’s Channel 4 interview below: