Sunday, May 25, 2025
MAKE A DONATION
Get in Touch
The Free Speech Union
Member Login
BECOME A MEMBER
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • Company Staff
      • Founders & Board
      • Advisory Council
      • Legal Advisory Council
      • Writer’s Advisory Council
      • Scottish Advisory Council
      • Northern Ireland Advisory Council
    • The Freedoms We Defend​
      • Freedom of Speech
      • Freedom of Expression
      • Academic Freedom
      • Freedom of the Press
      • Freedom of Religion
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
  • Latest News
  • FAQS
  • Resources
    • Informative Guides
      • Online Offences Related to Civil Disorder FAQs
      • FAQs About Scotland’s Hate Crime Act
      • FAQs About What to do if You’re Contacted by Police Scotland About a Speech-Related Complaint
      • Freedom of Speech Online FAQs
      • Freedom of Expression on Campus FAQs
      • How to Make a Freedom of Information Request
      • Gender Pronouns in the Workplace
      • How to Remove Non Crime Hate Incident from your Police Record
      • Navigating Social Media and the Workplace
      • What to do if You’ve Been De-Banked
      • Anti-Racism and Unconscious Bias Training
      • The Governments Consultation on Reforming the Human Rights Act
    • Briefing Documents
    • Press Releases
    • Media
    • Letters
    • Teaching Materials
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Weekly News Podcast
    • Guest Interviews & Debates
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Labour’s War on Free Speech
    • Higher Education Act
    • Conversion Therapy Ban
    • Say No to Banter Bouncers
    • Time to Scrap Non-Crime Hate Incidents
  • Apply For a Grant
  • Shop
The Free Speech Union
Join Today

Teacher’s trans row employment tribunal collapses over anti-Tory slurs

  • BY Frederick Attenborough
  • March 26, 2024
Teacher sacked after refusing to treat eight-year-old biological female as a boy over welfare concerns

A tribunal which was hearing claims that a teacher was sacked for challenging her school’s transgender policy has collapsed after a member made anti-Conservative slurs and showed “significant prejudice against Christians”.

As reported by the Times, all three members of the tribunal in Nottingham, including the judge, have recused themselves in an effort to avoid a “perception of bias” against the teacher, who is said to have raised concerns about a socially transitioning eight-year-old. The report continues:

The rare move by the tribunal’s judge, Victoria Butler, and members Javed Akhtar and Jed Purkis – came after the discovery of social media comments alleged “to advocate religious discrimination”.

Purkis, a non-legal member of the Nottingham tribunal hearing, had described himself online as a socialist and trade unionist. On his social media accounts, which have now been made private, Purkis responded to the question, “What’s a good collective noun for Tories?” by saying “a tumour of Tories” and then subsequently as a “cess pit of Tories”.

In another comment on Twitter/X, Purkis complained that his social media timelines were “clogged up with right-wing nutjobs”. And responding to a comment that only atheists should be in public office, Purkis said: “Damn right, you won’t catch us killing in the name of our non-god.”

Referring to another commentator on the social media site who had said that Christians were “worse than woke”, Purkis responded: “If they are so f***ing super how comes there is so much shit going on in the world”.

Purkis had also “liked” posts questioning the existence of cancel culture which “alt right cranks keep bleating about”.

After Purkis’s comments came to light, Pavel Stroilov, the lawyer for the teacher, made an application for a recusal. He called on the panel to assess the posts “from an assumed standpoint of a fair-minded and informed observer. That observer needs to consider whether there is a possibility of bias, including subconscious bias”.

Stroilov argued that it would not be sufficient only for Purkis to step down, since the other two judges had presided over the trial together for more than six days and would be perceived as influenced by his view of the case.

In agreeing with that argument, the tribunal acknowledged that ‘“doubt would arise in the mind of a fair-minded and informed observer” as to their impartiality in the case.

The teacher – who has been anonymised to protect the identity of one of the pupils at the school – is suing Nottinghamshire county council and one of its primary schools for victimisation for whistleblowing, unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of her Christian beliefs.

Worth reading in full.

Join the FSU!
Previous Post

Universities told to protect free speech from foreign state attacks

Next Post

Threats, fear and surveillance: how Beijing targets students in the UK who criticise regime

Join the Free Speech Union

One annual investment for complete peace of mind.

As a member, you’ll have access to an array of resources and support, ensuring you can speak your mind without fear of being cancelled. Our experienced team provides guidance, support and – at our discretion – assistance with legal action. We will defend your right to speak your mind, however unorthodox your views, provided you don’t say anything unlawful.

Join Today

Make a Donation

Listen to our weekly news podcast

Listen to Our Past Interviews & Debates

IN THE MEDIA

News Archive

Join Our Community

Become a Member
Make a Donation

© The Free Speech Union Limited

Quick Links

Member Login
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Legal
FAQs
Facebook Twitter-square Youtube

Organisation Address

The Free Speech Union
85 Great Portland Street

London W1W 7LT
+44 020 3920 7865

Get in Touch
Media Enquiries email

Welcome to the Free Speech Union


If you’re looking for information and guidance, or in need of immediate help, please click the button below:
GET IN TOUCH
  • Become a Member
  • Make a Donation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • Company Staff
      • Founders & Board
      • Advisory Council
      • Legal Advisory Council
      • Writer’s Advisory Council
      • Scottish Advisory Council
      • Northern Ireland Advisory Council
    • The Freedoms We Defend​
      • Freedom of Speech
      • Freedom of Expression
      • Academic Freedom
      • Freedom of the Press
      • Freedom of Religion
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
  • Latest News
  • FAQs
  • Resources
    • Informative Guides
      • Online Offences Related to Civil Disorder FAQs
      • FAQs About Scotland’s Hate Crime Act
      • FAQs About What to do if You’re Contacted by Police Scotland About a Speech-Related Complaint
      • Freedom of Speech Online FAQs
      • Freedom of Expression on Campus FAQs
      • How to Make a Freedom of Information Request
      • Gender Pronouns in the Workplace
      • How to Remove Non Crime Hate Incident from your Police Record
      • Navigating Social Media and the Workplace
      • What to do if You’ve Been De-Banked
      • Anti-Racism and Unconscious Bias Training
      • The Governments Consultation on Reforming the Human Rights Act
    • Briefing Documents
    • Press Releases
    • Media
    • Letters
    • Teaching Materials
  • Videos
  • Podcast
    • Weekly News Podcast
    • Guest Interviews & Debates
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Labour’s War on Free Speech
    • Higher Education Act
    • Conversion Therapy Ban
    • Say No to Banter Bouncers
    • Time to Scrap Non-Crime Hate Incidents
  • Apply For a Grant
  • Member Login
  • Shop