Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has pulled out of speaking at a Christian conference citing concerns about promotional material he has seen.
A spokesman for Farron confirmed that the conference was the Northern Men's Convention, to be held on Saturday in Manchester, but declined to expand on the nature of Farron's concerns.
Farron, an evangelical Christian who resigned from the Lib Dem leadership following a poor result after an election campaign during which he was repeatedly quizzed about his views on gay sex, wrote on Twitter: 'I agreed many months ago to attend a church-organised event but just today I've seen promotional material for it which contains things I'm deeply concerned and saddened by. As a result, I have withdrawn from the event.'
Material used to promote the Northern Men's Convention event, Men Standing Alone: Holding the Word of God in the Worst of Times, includes the statement: 'Even since the last NMC the assaults on orthodox Christian teaching, and morality, especially in the area of sexuality, seem to have increased at an alarming rate. Those who have stood firm in the Anglican tradition at General Synod have been ridiculed and vilified. The leadership from those in authority in the denominations who should be the guardians of biblical truth has been muted to say the least and even in Bible teaching churches many appear to be wavering under the onslaught of the gay lobby.
'Add to this scenario the increasing problems associated with immigration, and Islam in particular and indeed many other things which push Christians further and further to the margins, there is for many a feeling of despair and even fear about standing up and speaking out.'
While Farron is likely to be embarrassed by talk of the 'onslaught of the gay lobby', NMC's take on immigration and Islam is even more politically toxic for a committed liberal.
Northern Men's Convention has been contacted for comment on this story.
