Tim Farron and the great liberal witch hunt

Happy now, everyone? David Baddiel? David Walliams? Our friend Owen Jones, the Guardian’s conscience keeper? And, not least Tory MP Nigel Evans.

After being subjected to an inquisition on telly – courtesy of Channel 4’s Cathy Newman – about whether he does or does not regard homosexuality as sin, then a co-ordinated dissing online, and finally a straight, menacing question from Nigel Evans in the Commons – ‘does the Hon Gentleman think being gay is a sin?’– Tim Farron has capitulated, given in, abandoned the attempt to keep his views on a matter of conscience to himself. ‘So, I do not,’ he said.

He was a bit red in the face as he said it, as you would, when you’ve had to prostitute your conscience, but the thing is done. He has done what his antagonists wanted, and proved at the same time that it is now impossible to hold a view of gay relations or gay marriage which differs in any respect from that approved by the guardians of the new public morals.