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Steel defends non-believer Clegg

Former Liberal leader Lord Steel has praised new Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg for his honesty in revealing that he does not believe in God.

But Lord Steel - a practising Christian himself - said personal religious beliefs should be kept out of politics.

Mr Clegg, who was elected Lib Dem leader on Tuesday, was asked if he believed in God on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He replied 'no' but added later that he did not have a "closed mind" on the subject of faith.

He told the BBC News website: "I have enormous respect for people who have religious faith, I'm married to a Catholic and am committed to bringing my children up as Catholics.

"However, I myself am not an active believer, but the last thing I would do when talking or thinking about religion is approach it with a closed heart or a closed mind."

Lord Steel, whose father was the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said his own Christian faith had been the "inspiration" for his political career "but that's not true of everybody".

Full story at BBC News.