The Liberal Democrat party in the United Kingdom this month agreed to pay damages of at least £250,000 ($337,250) to former BBC journalist David Campanale for unlawful discrimination against him for his Christian beliefs.
When Campanale, an Anglican, sought candidacy for Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam constituency in greater London in January 2022, his political party chose Luke Taylor instead. Taylor placed third in the initial selection process but later won the seat in the 2024 general election.
Ai Law, representing Campanale, filed a claim for discrimination in the County Court at Central London under Section 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The suit was filed against the Sutton Liberal Democrats, the London Liberal Democrats, and the federal Liberal Democrats in England.
Judge Alan Johns, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, issued a court order this month (April) for damages and costs. All three Liberal Democrat political groups admitted full liability for repeated discrimination against Campanale.
The order details direct and indirect discrimination, victimization, and breach of contract against the three liberal democratic groups regarding Campanale’s Christian beliefs.
The Liberal Democrats agreed to pay damages of at least £250,000 ($337,250) for unlawful discrimination against the journalist for his “protected beliefs,” barrister Alasdair Henderson of Ai Law said in a press statement.
“Following his selection, party members raised issues concerning his religious beliefs,” said Henderson said. “He faced internal complaints, personal harassment, and deselection attempts. The party admits activists ‘mocked and abused’ David Campanale for his Christianity.”
Henderson added that the Liberal Democrats admitted to several significant acts of unlawful direct and indirect discrimination, as well as victimization when Campanale tried to defend himself through internal processes.
“It is extremely disappointing to see any political party failing to uphold the law in this way,” Henderson said. “Hopefully, the Liberal Democrats will learn from this case and re-affirm that they welcome members of any faith.”
Court papers name Taylor, who now holds the seat, multiple times as a “main instigator of the discrimination.”
Sir Ed Davey currently leads the Liberal Democrats. He took over the role formerly held by Tim Farron, who resigned in 2017 after facing pressure over his evangelical Christian faith.
“To be a leader, particularly of a progressive liberal party in 2017, and to live as a committed Christian and to hold faithful to the Bible’s teaching has felt impossible for me,” Farron said at the time.
The party faces a total legal bill that could exceed £250,000 in addition to the damages paid to Campanale.
The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF) on May 10, 2024 called for an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The forum described the behavior against Campanale as “so egregious and so offensive to the core principles of equality” that it requires an independent external probe.
The LDCF stated that party officers repeatedly failed to respond to evidence of harassment and victimization. The forum urged the EHRC to investigate other instances of discrimination against Christians within the party.
Reports indicate Sir Ed Davey’s office took charge in January 2022 to review unpublicized allegations against Campanale made by internal political opponents. The office allowed the issue to escalate; an unnamed local party chairperson later described those allegations as “baseless and distorted.”
In its defense documents, the Liberal Democrats maintained a “right to deselect” candidates who expressed religious beliefs.
“I know Sir Ed Davey well, having served as vice-chair of his own neighboring constituency party,” Campanale said. “Despite Ed criticizing growing intolerance within progressive parties, he has overseen disgraceful discrimination on his own doorstep. His party of lawmakers has been unmasked as lawbreakers.”
Campanale thanked his legal team and supporters, including Sir Simon Hughes and the 1,514 people who crowdfunded his case through CitizenGo.
“For this victory, I thank God,” Campanale said. “It’s time for all political parties to recognize Christianity as the foundation of Britain’s democracy.”
Tom Ellis of Ai Law warned that Christians increasingly face discrimination in public life.
“Views that people once considered uncontroversial now meet increasing opposition,” Ellis said. “There is no justification for direct discrimination based on religion. The ground being fought over in the public square relates to an individual’s ability to freely manifest their beliefs in an increasingly secular society.”
