IN this country we have heard many people claiming to have “Christian values” over recent years.

We have heard Theresa May discuss the value of prayer and we have even heard parties like UKIP making great play of Christianity in the UK’s culture.

These sincerely held values, however, have been turned into something to be hounded over when it came to Tim Farron and his leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

I find it appalling that during the recent election campaign Tim’s faith received more attention from the media than anything actually pertinent to my party’s manifesto.

To hold principles outside of politics is, it now seems, a weakness. To have those principles misrepresented and exploited for political ends is, it now seems, fair game.

As an atheist I have been proud to stand as a general election candidate under Tim’s leadership. He has presided over the biggest expansion ever in the party’s membership and enthused more new activists than ever before.

Tim has always been and, I believe, always will be a champion of liberalism whose voting record on individual rights and liberties stands up to scrutiny and speaks for itself.

I have valued Tim’s leadership and look forward to standing again very soon, under the Liberal Democrat banner, whenever the next election comes.

PHILIP DUNN

Spurgeon Road, Bournemouth

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