麻豆约拍

Tim Farron has announced he is stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats less than a week after the General Election.

The party increased its tally of MPs from nine to 12 at the election but the campaign was often overshadowed by questions about Mr Farron's religious views on gay marriage and abortion.

The Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, who has worked closely with Mr Farron, says he has probably done the right thing but the decision would not have been easy.

But he blamed the media for badly treating Mr Farron, saying that they went at him "like a dog with a bone".

(Photo: Tim Farron. Credit: Getty Images).