THE LEADER OF the Liberal Democrats in the UK Tim Farron has stepped down.

Farron announced his resignation from the post today, following last week’s UK election.

In his statement, Farron said he was ”torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader”, the BBC reports.

He said he should have spoken more wisely with the questions around his faith during the election campaign as well as about his views on gay sex.

Farron came under pressure on the campaign trail when he refused to directly answer if he believed being gay is a sin.

The Liberal Democrats gained four seats in last week’s election, bringing their total to 12.

In his statement, Farron said he was “torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader”.

“From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith. I’ve tried to answer with grace and patience. Sometimes my answers could have been wiser,” he said.

“Journalists have every right to ask what they see fit. The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader.

A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment.

Farron said that his decision to step down was voluntary and he retained the support of the party.

Read: DUP ‘a compassionate party that won’t bring up abortion or gay marriage in Westminster’