Last week's Comment stated that much can happen in a week and that the only predicable thing, as far as politics was concerned, was that they were going to be unpredictable.

That was borne out immediately - in between the Gazette going to press and the newspaper appearing last Thursday, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron announced he planned to step down as leader of the national Liberal Democrat party.

His main reason, as he told the Gazette this week, was the huge focus put on his Christian faith in the run-up to the general election. Mr Farron was repeatedly asked his theological beliefs and came to realise this this was deflecting attention from his political messages.

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Some elements of the national media seemed to fixate on his religious views, in a way they did not do with other politicians.

Politicians must be prepared for pressure, of course, but this was intense and prolonged and must have been very stressful for him and his family.

Politically the Liberal Democrats did not make huge gains in the polls but they did get four more seats, which can be judged as steadying the ship and taking things forward. Mr Farron is probably right to step aside from the national leadership now to see if someone else can make further progress.

In Barrow and Furness, John Woodcock was surprised and relieved to regain his seat - albeit with only a 209 vote majority and after a recount.

He had very publicly distanced himself from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during the election, partly because of their differing views on Trident.

But now Mr Woodcock has paid tribute to Mr Corbyn, accepting he got many younger voters to the ballot boxes and admitting he was wrong to think the Labour leader could not inspire people to vote for the party. This is a mature and humble admission and he should be given credit for it.

Both men are now in marginal seats - Mr Farron's majority is just 777, down from 8,949 in 2015. Both are likely to face a massive challenge at the next election, whenever that is.

However, whatever happens then, they have shown themselves this week to be men of principle.