The Liberal Democrats, a political party in the UK, have reportedly admitted in court to multiple breaches of British human rights and equality law after unlawfully deselecting parliamentary candidate David Campanale because of his Christian faith.
According to The Independent, Campanale, a former BBC journalist, won the party’s selection process to stand in Sutton and Cheam — a parliamentary constituency in south London — ahead of the 2024 general election. He was later removed as the party’s candidate and replaced by rival Luke Taylor, who went on to win the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
In a recent legal case, the Liberal Democrats admitted “several significant acts of unlawful direct and indirect discrimination” related to Campanale’s Christian beliefs, as well as victimization after he challenged the decision through the party’s internal processes, the outlet reported. The party, led by Sir Ed Davey, has agreed to pay damages, though the case is continuing over legal costs reportedly exceeding £250,000 (roughly $338,000 USD).
Campanale’s lawyer, Alasdair Henderson, who also serves as a commissioner on the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission, described the party’s actions as extremely disappointing.
“Hopefully, the Liberal Democrats will learn from this case and clearly reaffirm 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,” Henderson said, according to The Independent.
Campanale also criticized Davey for overseeing “disgraceful discrimination in his own party and on his own doorstep,” despite having previously criticized growing intolerance within progressive and liberal parties.
“His would-be party of lawmakers have been unmasked as arrogant lawbreakers,” Campanale said, according to the outlet.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said the deselection decision was made by local party members, not by Taylor, and declined to comment further while the case is ongoing. According to The Independent, the party had initially argued it “had a right to deselect” candidates who “expressed religious beliefs.”
“The Liberal Democrats are home to people of all faiths and none, including many Christians,” the party said, according to the outlet. “Three Liberal Democrat MPs in neighbouring seats to Sutton and Cheam are practising Christians, including party leader Ed Davey.”