'˜Farron never enjoyed being party leader'
THE leader of the city's Liberal Democrats says Tim Farron '˜did not enjoy' being party leader after he stepped down from the role last night.
Mr Farron – who briefly visited Portsmouth on the campaign trail last month – quit as leader of the party despite boosting their seat count at Westminster from nine to 12 seats in last Thursday’s general election.
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, who brought Mr Farron down to Mary Rose Academy in Milton while on the campaign trail for the Portsmouth South seat said his friend’s exit was ‘not unexpected.’
He said: ‘I just do not think Tim ever really enjoyed being leader. I think he was far more happy just looking after his constituency and being with his family.
‘He will definitely be remembered for what he did and as a good person.’
Mr Farron said he had quit the role due to constant questions over his faith.
He said: ‘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.
‘To be a political leader – especially of a progressive, Liberal party in 2017 and to live as a committed Christian has felt impossible for me.’