Lib Dems Admit to Discriminating Against Candidate for His Christian Beliefs

Max Thompson, Campaigns Officer

5 May 2026

The Free Speech Union is no stranger to the Liberal Democrats. Over our six-year history, we have handled a number of cases involving individuals who have been discriminated against, silenced, censored, and even threatened with expulsion from the party on account of their lawful views.

Last week, it was revealed that the Liberal Democrats had admitted to the unlawful treatment of David Campanale, who was the short-lived prospective parliamentary candidate for the Sutton and Cheam constituency ahead of the 2024 general election.

This admission is deeply embarrassing for the party, and comes after a four-year legal battle believed to have cost over £250,000.

In this landmark case, the party has agreed to pay damages to the former BBC award-winning journalist, admitting multiple counts of unlawful religious discrimination — discrimination largely perpetrated by a rival, the now-MP Luke Taylor, whom Campanale had defeated to win selection in Sutton and Cheam.

David Campanale was “mocked and abused” for his religious beliefs before being forced out as the parliamentary candidate. His treatment has drawn widespread condemnation from a number of senior figures, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who has said that it could become “impossible” for Christians to stand as Lib Dem parliamentary candidates. Criticism has also been levelled at the party by the Bishops of Winchester and Guildford, as well as by internal party figures such as the former MP and deputy leader Sir Simon Hughes.

Despite being a committed Christian himself, and despite his party's admission of serious unlawful conduct towards a former candidate, Sir Ed Davey has yet to apologise — the very least he could do. Lord Young of Acton, the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, has called on Sir Ed to do so, stating: “Ed Davey owes David Campanale an apology. He's clearly been discriminated against for his Christian beliefs.”

He added: “The Lib Dems wouldn't discriminate against a Muslim, a Hindu or Sikh because of their religious faith. Why are Christians the only faith community not welcome in the party?”

Campanale's barrister is Alasdair Henderson, who also serves as a commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and led the investigation into antisemitism within the Labour Party. Mr Henderson has described it as “extremely disappointing” that the Liberal Democrats failed to uphold the law for such a prolonged period.

He said: “The Liberal Democrats have admitted that Mr Campanale was subject to several significant acts of unlawful direct and indirect discrimination because of his Christian beliefs, as well as victimisation when he tried to engage the party's internal processes to defend himself. It is extremely disappointing to see any political party failing to uphold the law in this way.

“Hopefully, the Liberal Democrats will learn from this case and clearly reaffirm that they welcome members from any faith, will prohibit all forms of unlawful discrimination, and will protect freedom of conscience at all levels of the party.”

It is worth recalling that under the Equality Act 2010, holding and expressing any religious belief — including Christianity — is a protected characteristic.

Mr Campanale has said: “I know Sir Ed Davey well, having been vice-chair of his own neighbouring constituency party.

“Despite Ed having criticised ‘growing intolerance within progressive, liberal parties the world over’, he has overseen disgraceful discrimination in his own party and on his own doorstep. His would-be party of lawmakers have been unmasked as arrogant law breakers.”

Campanale was selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate in 2021 but swiftly faced a campaign to remove him on the basis of his Christian beliefs. It is reported that at least six complaints were made as part of what the local party's chairman described as a “concerted and organised campaign”. Much of the focus centred on the fact that, a decade earlier, Campanale had been a member of the Christian People's Alliance. Those complaints were subsequently dismissed. Mr Campanale was formally deselected in August 2023.

Legal action against the Liberal Democrats was launched in 2024, after Campanale had raised a number of complaints with the party which he believed had not been properly investigated.

While it is welcome that the Liberal Democrats have now admitted to unlawful treatment, David Campanale should never have been discriminated against for his lawful religious beliefs in the first place.

Read more in The Telegraph.