The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF) has hit back over a reminder to party members that they mustn’t discriminate over candidates who hold ‘protected beliefs’ and particularly ‘gender critical beliefs’.
It follows a circular by Lib Dem Chief Executive Mike Dixon to constituency associations and affiliated bodies about complying with the Equality Act 2010 in the hope that it will help local party associations avoid legal action.
Mike Dixon said his reminder to treat colleagues with ‘protected gender critical beliefs in the same way as any other member’ was partly in response to recent legal cases.
David Campanale, who was deselected as a parliamentary candidate in 2022 is suing the Lib Dems over what he claims is direct discrimination over his Christian views and in particular his views on abortion.
The former BBC and Premier journalist claims secularist campaigners blocked his candidacy after party members had chosen him to represent the Sutton and Cheam constituency. He’s now launched a crowdfunder campaign to raise funds for his litigation process.
Responding to the missive from Mike Dixon, the LDCF executive committee which is backing Mr Campanale, said it was a ‘sad indictment of the democratic health of the Liberal Democrats that party HQ has to remind activists to be Liberal.
‘Our hope now is that the party would end the run of expensive court cases by admitting it has got this one wrong. An apology is due to David for the delay and for the apparent tolerance of secular bigotry. Traditionally, the party has been a home for people of all faiths and none - a party of diversity and rational tolerance.’
In January, the Lib Dems were ordered to pay £14,000 to a former parliamentary candidate who says she was driven out of the party and barred from standing as an MP over her gender-critical views. She was removed as a prospective parliamentary candidate for Wakefield after she wore a top bearing the slogan 'Woman: Adult Human Female' to a party meeting.
Commenting on behalf of the LDCF executive, former Liberal Democrat MP for Southport Cllr John Pugh added, "Happily we are not dealing with a widespread problem. However, it is neither credible nor consistent for the party to warn associated bodies against breaking the law while weakly adopting a ‘head in the sand attitude’ in David Campanale’s case and adding pointlessly to its own mounting litigation costs. The better, braver, more inclusive instincts of the party should have prevailed.”
Urging members to be "polite and constructive" in their response to sensitive issues, Mike Dixon said "if in doubt, be kind".
He added: ‘There is real danger of political parties continuing to be taken to court about these issues unless we get the response right. We would all prefer to spend money on campaigning and winning seats than defending legal cases.’