Read Libby Purves on Nick Clegg 'not doing God'

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats’ new leader, has defied political convention with a frank admission that he is an atheist.

During a round of media broadcasts on the morning after his election to the post, he was asked by one interviewer: “Do you believe in God?”

“No,” Mr Clegg answered simply, during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He later issued a statement saying that, while he is “not an active believer”, his Spanish wife Miriam is a Roman Catholic and their two young sons will be brought up in the Catholic faith.

His statement said: “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.”

His admission is nonetheless unusual for a British political leader, most of whom have tended to try to avoid upsetting believers and non-believers alike by referring to or hinting at their faith before saying religion is a private matter.

The most notable exception was Tony Blair, an active Christian, who admitted in an interview last month that if you talk about faith in Britain’s political system “people think you’re a nutter”.

Few politicians have dared to do the opposite, however, and admit they have no faith at all.

David Cameron has told interviewers he believes in God, attends church (“not as much as I should”) and wants his children to attend a church school.

Gordon Brown makes much of his upbringing as the son of a Church of Scotland minister and his own “moral compass” but, in line with many British politicians, is coy when pressed in greater detail about his faith.