David Campanale, a former BBC journalist and churchgoer, sued his own party after he was removed as the 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.

After a four-year legal battle, the party has now admitted Campanale’s claims of religious discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and must pay damages, which may exceed £250,000.

Claims of harassment and hostility

Campanale had previously stood in elections for the Lib Dems and served as a councillor before winning an internal selection contest in 2021. However, within weeks, he said he came under intense scrutiny, harassment and suspicion from a small group of party activists.

Despite formal complaints against him being dismissed in early 2022, Campanale said local Lib Dem members subjected him to an intense interrogation about his Christian beliefs, which his legal complaint likened to the “Spanish inquisition”.

He also described one instance in which he was questioned and mocked by around 30 people at the home of the local party’s then-president.

‘Religiously aggravated harassment’

Speaking to Premier Christian News, Campanale said he was used to the “rough and tumble” of politics but drew a clear line at what he experienced.

“I’ve been in politics for 40 years… I’m not complaining about that… neither am I deterred by hurty words,” he said. “Political abuse, when it’s political, is part of the cut and thrust of how we do politics in our country… it doesn’t come as a surprise. What is unacceptable is religiously aggravated harassment.”

He added that the situation became so toxic that some activists refused to campaign alongside him.

“Activists would say, ‘Can you please let us know where the parliamentary candidate is campaigning, because we don’t want to be triggered if we bump into him on a dark night’,” he said.

“The party officers should have sent these fools home. You have no part or place in a liberal party if you’re triggered by the presence of a Christian.”

Faith and deselection

Campanale said his Christian beliefs, including his previous association with the Christian People’s Alliance, were targeted by activists seeking to remove him.

He also claimed that Luke Taylor, who came third in the original selection contest, told him that the Christian-friendly Liberal Democrat party which had previously included believers such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy was “over”, and in the new secularised party there was no space for practising Christians.

In 2023, after an earlier deselection vote was ruled invalid on procedural grounds, the local party formally removed him as candidate, citing a failure to “win the confidence” of activists.

Campanale said he was offered the opportunity to repudiate his beliefs to remain a candidate, but refused.

“I said, you can offer me anything you like but I will not sacrifice or trade my conscience for anything in the world,” he said.

“I’m not bitter that I went down for the sake of the unborn child. I will not be pressured into voting for issues that are contrary to Christian teaching.”

Party response

By admitting his claim, the Liberal Democrats have acknowledged both direct and indirect discrimination, as well as harassment, on the grounds of Campanale’s faith.

The Lib Dem Christian Forum told Premier it would not be providing a statement at this time.

A party spokesperson said the consent order admitting the claims was not a final judgment.

“This is an ongoing legal case so it would not be appropriate to comment,” they said.

“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.”

(Report by Tim Wyatt)