You may have seen the stories about British Liberal Democrat MP, Jenny Tonge, who provoked outrage with her statement that if she were Palestinian, she might become a suicide bomber. Well, this story is even worse than it appears on the surface—because Tonge is also the party’s frontbench spokesperson for children. (Hat tip: rosh.)

The veteran Liberal Democrat MP, Jenny Tonge, has been asked to step down as the party’s frontbench spokesperson for children.

The call came after Dr Tonge said that she could consider carrying out a suicide bomb attack against Israel if she were a Palestinian.

This afternoon Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy issued a statement calling on the MP for Richmond Park to resign her frontbench post.

Mr Kennedy said: “Her recent remarks about suicide bombers are completely unacceptable. They are not compatible with Liberal Democrat party policies and principles. There can be no justification, under any circumstances for taking innocent lives through terrorism.

”I am sorry to lose Dr Tonge from the frontbench team. She will continue to represent her constituency on the backbenches of the House of Commons.”

When Dr Tonge was asked to clarify her comments on BBC 4’s Today programme, she stressed that she did not condone terrorism, but repeated her view that she could understand the position of a Palestinian who carried out a suicide bomb attack.