Christians Can No Longer Vote Lib Dem.

 Lib Dems ‘broke equality laws’ over deselection of Christian candidate.

Complaint to EHRC concerns the treatment of David Campanale who is set to be replaced as an MP candidate for Sutton and Cheam

Hayley Dixon, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT and Genevieve Holl-Allen, POLITICAL REPORTER12 May 2024 • 9:30pm

Related Topics

• Liberal Democrats, 
• Religion, 
• Christianity, 
• London

The Liberal Democrats have been accused of deselecting a candidate “based on his Christian faith” in a breach of equality law.

Members have reported the party to the equalities watchdog over accusations that the party has tolerated a “hostile environment” for people of faith, failed to investigate serious allegations of discrimination and harassment and “emboldened those who believe Christians should be driven out of public life”.

The complaint to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) concerns the treatment of David Campanale, an Anglican and award-winning former BBC journalist, who is set to be replaced as a prospective MP candidate for Sutton and Cheam after a two-year campaign against him by members of his local party and a number of LGBT activists.

The campaign alleged he had been involved with the Christian People’s Alliance (CPA) political party, which has campaigned against abortion and gay marriage, and that he had not sufficiently disclosed his faith during the selection process, a charge he denies.

Mr Campanale, who left the CPA in 2012 and says he did not agree with its tone or priorities, believes the attacks against him are part of an ongoing attempt to secularise the Lib Dems.

Party members supporting him are now calling on the EHRC to launch an independent investigation into “multiple alleged breaches of equality law and our party constitution”.