Liberal Democrats Admit Unlawful Bias Against 1 Candidate, Face Inquiry Call
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 27
Liberal Democrats Admit Unlawful Bias Against 1 Candidate, Face Inquiry Call
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 27
Summary
David Campanale's case moves to a London civil court this week to determine damages and costs after the Liberal Democrats accepted in full that they unlawfully discriminated against him over his Christian beliefs.
Campanale had been chosen for Sutton and Cheam in 2021 but was dropped before the 2024 election; he said party members mocked his faith and blocked him from campaigning in some wards over his views on "matters of conscience."
John Pugh and the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum are demanding an independent investigation, and former leader Tim Farron said the party "did not get this right" and must prevent any repeat.
The dispute adds to wider equality pressure on the party: it was ordered to pay Natalie Bird £14,000 last year, and another gender-critical discrimination case was later settled out of court.