text: Nick Clegg's arch-rival for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats was at the centre of a bitter row last night over the death of one of the party's councillors. Tim Farron was accused by the dead man's widow of 'betrayal' after an inquest found that Jo Stephenson jumped from the roof of his house while suffering 'intense stress'. Mr Stephenson, deputy leader of Cumbria County Council, fell from the three-storey property in Windermere after being vilified over new parking charges in Mr Farron's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency. Now Mr Stephenson’s widow Hilary has angrily accused Mr Farron – a former party president dubbed ‘Saint Tim’ because of his religious beliefs – of reneging on a deal to support her late husband over the policy. Tim Farron (left) was accused by Jo Stephenson's (centre) widow Hilary (right) of 'betrayal' after an inquest found that he jumped from the roof of his house while suffering 'intense stress' Mr Stephenson initially survived his fall and was coherent enough to tell the paramedics that he had intended to kill himself. He died of his injuries three weeks later. The shocking sequence of events unfolded after Mr Stephenson led controversial Lib Dem plans to boost the council's income by ending free street parking in Cumbria. Local sources claim that Mr Farron – favourite to replace Mr Clegg if the party flops in the Election – promised to support the charges in return for the exemption of Liberal Democrat-dominated parts of the county. But, according to Mrs Stephenson, when the plan provoked a furious backlash from local residents, Mr Farron stayed quiet as 59-year-old Mr Stephenson was bombarded with aggressive messages on Facebook and Twitter. 'They'd negotiated a deal but Tim reneged on it and shoved Jo into the forefront to take the wrath,' she told The Mail on Sunday. 'Jo would just say, 'it's not what gentlemen do, is it?' But it is what politicians do. I don't know the details of it [the deal]. I just know Farron reneged on it and it left Jo in a very uncomfortable position. He felt betrayed. 'When I found out that Tim Farron happened to be on holiday on the date of Jo's funeral, I was very pleased. Would I have barred him? Let's just say I was very happy that the date coincided with his holiday.' Kendal coroner's court heard last month that in the run-up to the day on which he jumped off his roof, Mr Stephenson had been under 'considerable political pressure', and 'preoccupied by a culmination of matters'. Nick Clegg's arch-rival for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron (pictured) was at the centre of a bitter row last night over the death of one of the party's councillors . He dialled 999 himself, telling the operator: 'Come quickly. I threw myself off the roof, I tried to kill myself.' The deputy coroner ruled that the fall was 'no accident' but stopped short of ruling Mr Stephenson committed suicide. Mrs Stephenson, who had two children with Mr Stephenson, does not believe her husband was suicidal but that he was so distressed by the personal attacks on him, he was not thinking properly. She recalled: 'I looked out of the bedroom window and saw an ambulance outside. I found Jo propped up against a chair talking to the paramedic on the phone.' Last month, Mr Farron launched a thinly-veiled leadership challenge to Mr Clegg, saying he would bring the party 'back from the dead'. The committed Christian brushed aside claims by enemies in the Clegg camp that he was a 'sanctimonious, God-bothering, treacherous little s***', and vowed to revive the Lib Dems. Mrs Stephenson questioned Tim Farron's 'saintly' image, saying: 'He wants everyone to love him and do what he says but he is just a typical modern politician who likes to whizz around the Lakes from one photo opportunity to another. 'He may see himself as a future leader of the Lib Dems but he's not the sort of character I would like to see in that job.' Mrs Stephenson said her husband was 'absolutely delightful,' adding: 'Jo didn't seek political glory, he wasn't like that.' Last night, Mr Farron, 44, said: 'I'm really saddened by these comments which are completely false and I strongly refute them. 'That does not change the fact that I have immense compassion for Hilary. Jo was an outstanding servant to our community and he is hugely missed.'
target: Jo Stephenson's widow accused Tim Farron of betraying her late husband .
  He was vilified over the new parking charges in Mr Farron's constituency .
  Deputy leader of Cumbria County Council fell from a three-storey property .
  An inquest found he jumped from the roof while suffering 'intense stress'