Lib Dems Concede to Unlawful Religious Discrimination in Candidate Selection
In a significant development just before the local elections, the Liberal Democrats have acknowledged engaging in unlawful religious discrimination against David Campanale, a parliamentary candidate known for his Christian beliefs.
David Campanale, a lay Anglican and former BBC journalist, was removed from his position as a prospective MP candidate for Sutton and Cheam and replaced by Luke Taylor MP, who continues to serve in that role. This decision sparked a legal challenge from Campanale, who alleged a targeted campaign against him by local party members and LGBT activists over two years.
Campanale reported being “mocked and abused in relation to his beliefs” and faced scrutiny due to his association with the Christian People’s Alliance. The party initially defended its actions by stating it was a “statement of fact” that the era of prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs had ended, referencing figures like Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy. They also asserted their right to deselect candidates whose religious beliefs conflicted with the party’s policy positions.
This stance was met with significant criticism, including from former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who expressed concern that it set a troubling precedent, potentially barring Christians from candidacy within the party. Former Lib Dem justice minister, Sir Simon Hughes, also condemned the party’s remarks as “clearly illiberal, discriminatory, anti-Christian comments” against Campanale.
A petition demanding Campanale’s reinstatement gathered over 20,000 signatures, with support from figures like the late Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, and the Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen. Ultimately, after a protracted four-year legal battle, the Liberal Democrats conceded to pay damages to Campanale, admitting to unlawful discrimination based on “his protected beliefs.” The party now faces a substantial legal bill, potentially exceeding £250,000.
Campanale’s legal campaign was supported by crowdfunding through more than 1,500 contributors on the CitizenGo platform. Reflecting on the outcome, Campanale expressed gratitude, stating, “For this victory, I thank God, my legal team at Ai Law and my supporters, especially Sir Simon Hughes and friends in the Lib Dem Christian Forum, who stood by me throughout.” He added, “It’s time for all political parties to recognise Christianity as the foundation of Britain’s democracy. For this reason, the historic faith of our nation must be celebrated – and defended.”
His barrister, Alasdair Henderson, who has experience as an equality commissioner investigating antisemitism in the Labour Party, remarked, “The Liberal Democrats have admitted that Mr Campanale was subject to several significant acts of unlawful direct and indirect discrimination because of his Christian beliefs, as well as victimisation when he tried to engage the party’s internal processes to defend himself. It is extremely disappointing to see any political party failing to uphold the law in this way. Hopefully, the Liberal Democrats will learn from this case and clearly re-affirm that they welcome members from any faith, will prohibit all forms of unlawful discrimination, and will protect freedom of conscience at all levels of the party.”
A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats commented, “This is an ongoing legal case so it would not be appropriate to comment. The Liberal Democrats are home to people of all faiths and none, including many Christians. Three Liberal Democrat MPs in neighbouring seats to Sutton and Cheam are practising Christians including party leader Ed Davey.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
