A Christian who was deselected as a parliamentary candidate by the Lib Dems is claiming £790,000 from the party.

David Campanale is pursuing a civil case in London against the Lib Dems, arguing that discrimination against his Christian beliefs cost him his political career.

The former Premier and BBC journalist sued his own party after he was removed as the Lib Dem candidate for Sutton and Cheam in south-west London in 2022.

His replacement, Luke Taylor, went on to win the seat in 2024, after Campanale said he was ousted by secular local activists angered that their candidate was an evangelical Christian who opposed abortion and assisted suicide.

The party has admitted direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation and breach of contract relating to Campanale’s case under the Equality Act 2010.

In a ‘schedule of loss’ presented to the court in London and seen by Premier Christian News, Campanale is claiming £56,200 for injury to feelings, £12,500 for aggravated damages, £75,000 for past loss of earnings, £156,330 for future loss of earnings, £134,633 for loss of MP pension, £279,809 for loss of chance, as well as counselling and therapy costs of £1,590 and £1,080 for wasted expenditure. The total amount, including interest is £788,740.

The Lib Dems however have presented a counter-schedule claiming the total level of damages should be closer to £20,000.

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “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.”