The Liberal Democrats have admitted breaching the human rights of former BBC journalist David Campanale through unlawful religious discrimination over his Christian faith. The party agreed to pay damages to Mr Campanale after he was deselected as a parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam ahead of the 2024 general election.
Details of the Case
The Lib Dems accepted claims of repeated unlawful acts by MP Luke Taylor, who had come third in the selection process but replaced Mr Campanale and subsequently won the seat. Mr Campanale is also pursuing costs which he claims are currently more than £250,000, following the landmark case.
Party's Controversial Defence
In their defence, the party controversially renounced its Christian roots, stating the era of prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs was over and initially claiming a right to deselect candidates based on religious views.
- The party admitted unlawful religious discrimination against Mr Campanale.
- Damages have been agreed, with additional costs sought exceeding £250,000.
- The Lib Dems' defence included a renunciation of its Christian heritage.
This case marks a significant development in the protection of religious freedom within political parties, highlighting the legal boundaries of candidate selection processes.
