Lib Dems mock Tim Farron’s views on gay sex in singalong
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Liberal Democrat MP and former leader of the party Tim Farron speaks to delegates at the Bournemouth International Centre on September 18, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. The pro-remain party, which is campaigning for a second referendum on the outcome of EU talks, is holding its annual conference at the English seaside town. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron was mocked by his own partyĀ for his views on gay sex during a singalong at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton.
Party members poked fun at the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale at the conference’s infamous “Glee Club” on the final day of the conference, where attendees sing around a piano, which has become one of the most popular fringe events in UK politics.
During the 2017 general election campaign, Farron, the then leader of the party,Ā evaded questions in interviewsĀ about whether he believed gay sex is sinful.
The Glee Club songbook also included a tune about Democratic Unionist Party leaderĀ Arlene Foster. (Sarah Brown)
Lyrics to the track, sung to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s A Sin,” included: “When I go back upon Newsnight, you know itās going to cause you pain. Iām speaking on gay sex again.ā
ItĀ continues: āFor every interview, no matter when or where or whom, has gay sex in common too. Itās a sin.
āA Christian canāt become PM, except for, you know, all of them, please feel sorry for poor Tim.
āSo when I flounced off in a huff, but wonāt shut up about this stuff, at least Iām not a puff. Thatās a sin.”
Sarah Brown, a trans campaigner and member of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, who wrote the lyrics for the singalong, told PinkNews: “The inspiration behind this particular one came from a sense of disappointment over the way Tim handled the questions he was asked about ‘sin’ during the 2017 election campaign.
“I think it distracted from some of the really excellent LGBT+ work weāve been doing in the Lib Dems on prep, on the blood ban, on equality and dignity for trans and intersex people.”
Brown, who said she understood Farron was present during the Glee Club event, added: “People seem to have enjoyed the song, although Iām not sure we did the best job of singing it!”
The Glee Club songbook also included a track about Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster.
Also at the Lib Dem conference, current leader Vince Cable made the news after he said “exotic spresm” instead of “exotic spasm” while talkng about Brexit during his keynote speech.
Tim Farron at the Lib Dem party conference in Bournemouth in 2017. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
At one point during the 2017 general election campaign, FarronĀ attempted to salvage his reputationĀ in a BBC interview, telling the broadcaster:Ā “I don’t believe gay sex is a sin.”
However, inĀ anĀ interview with Premier Christian RadioĀ in January, Farron admitted he regretted his comments to the BBC.
Asked if he felt under pressure toĀ change his message in the BBC interview, he said: āYeah. The bottom line is, of course I did.
āThere are things I said, including that, that I regret. There was a sense in which I felt, Iāve got to get this off my table.”
