Liberal Democrat Christian Forum calls for independent investigation over parliamentary candidate discriminated against by party

After the admission of discrimination by the Liberal Democrats over the deselection of a church-going parliamentary candidate, leading Christians in the party are calling for an independent investigation into wrongdoing at several levels of the organisation. The request to the party leadership comes from the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF). The call by LDCF follows the party admitting in court the pleaded claim brought by David Campanale against the Liberal Democrat parties in Sutton, London and England, for unlawful discrimination over his protected Christian beliefs. Mr Campanale had been the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Sutton and Cheam in Greater London but was deselected as the candidate. LDCF Chair Olivia Honeyman said the case “exposes failings at multiple levels in the Party”.

HH Judge Johns KC ordered on 7 April that the first hearing to decide the sum of damages to be payable by the Liberal Democrat Defendants will take place in the Central London County Court on 29 June 2026. It will be the first time the party faces David Campanale’s barrister, former EHRC Commissioner Alasdair Henderson, who previously led the Equality Commission investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party.

Mr Campanale had been democratically chosen by members in Sutton and Cheam in Greater London to fight the 2024 General Election but was “mocked and abused” for his faith, according to court papers, then deselected. The forthcoming hearings will assess the appropriate damages for the discrimination and breach of contract and Liberal Democrats liability for costs. In letters to the Liberal Democrat leadership, LDCF has expressed concerns about a possible hidden ‘provision, criterion or practice’ (PCP) at work within the Party impacting Christians and others wanting to uphold adherence to protected characteristics. Two recent cases lost by the Liberal Democrats have been won by women with beliefs about biological sex. Spokesperson for LDCF and former MP John Pugh commented: “Launching an investigation would send a message that Liberal Democrats are serious about discrimination.”

The court admission by the Liberal Democrats follows sustained pressure from the Executive of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF), one of the largest affiliated organisations in the party, backed by former Justice minister and Church member, Sir Simon Hughes, David himself, his family, and supporting members of the Sutton and Cheam Local Party Executive. The decision of the Central London County Court now allows David to re-establish his reputation within the party. LDCF Chair Olivia Honeyman said the admission of wrongdoing was long overdue. “For nearly four years David has pursued this case in order to establish a simple principle — that political parties are not above the law” she said. “The Liberal Democrats have now accepted that they discriminated against David, and that matters to David and to us as a Christian body within the party.” “This case is not just about Sutton and Cheam. It exposes failings at multiple levels in the party - local, regional and national - which have all discriminated by their actions or lack of actions.”

Councillor John Pugh hoped the outcome would prompt meaningful change. “This case should act as a warning across the political system”, he said. “If parties fail to deal fairly and lawfully with their own candidates, they will ultimately be held to account. We now expect our party to instigate an independent investigation to ensure this cannot happen again to another candidate or member. Rules must be clear and practical and must be followed transparently.

David Campanale was a founding executive member of the LDCF, of which he remains an active member, alongside his party membership. He had formerly worked in Parliament as a researcher in the Liberal Whips Office and in the SDP HQ in Cowley Street. He served eight years as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where he was Vice-Chair of Sir Ed Davey’s local party association. After a period in the Christian Peoples Alliance, David returned to the Liberal Democrats and stood as parliamentary candidate in Spelthorne in the 2019 General Election, where he trebled the Liberal Democrat vote. He then was selected in Sutton and Cheam in 2022.

ENDS

For more information:

Cllr John Pugh 07717 641012

David Campanale 07873 625396

Court documents at www.davidcampanale.co.uk 

WHO WE ARE