The Liberal Democrats have admitted breaching the human rights of David Campanale, a former BBC journalist, and agreed to pay damages after conceding multiple counts of unlawful religious discrimination, his legal team confirmed. The party blocked him from standing as its candidate for Sutton and Cheam in the 2024 General Election because of his Christian beliefs, according to reports. In legal filings, the Liberal Democrats admitted the claim in its entirety, accepting all allegations of repeated breaches of the law by MP Luke Taylor, who succeeded Campanale.
A party source confirmed that local members deselected Mr Campanale, not Mr Taylor, even though Taylor had only come third in the original selection. Taylor was installed on the day the election was called and later won the seat, a decision that sparked immediate backlash. The bishops of Winchester and Guildford, along with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, raised the matter in a joint letter during the election campaign, GB News reported.
Former Lib Dem deputy leader Sir Simon Hughes also condemned the treatment, according to a statement he issued, calling it an affront to the party's inclusive values. In its court defence, submitted ahead of the settlement, the Liberal Democrats appeared to distance themselves from their Christian heritage, stating as a matter of fact that the era of prominent Christian Liberal Democrats was over. The submission also argued that the party retained the right to deselect candidates whose expression of religious beliefs clashed with its values.
Campanale told GB News that his costs have risen above £250,000 and he is determined to recover them. Through his solicitors, he has demanded a public apology from Sir Ed Davey, the party leader. Recounting his four-year legal ordeal, Campanale described feeling deeply let down by Davey, whom he had supported as vice-chair of the neighbouring Kingston and Surbiton constituency, and pointed to Davey's own past remarks condemning 'growing intolerance' in public life as evidence of a double standard.
The admission leaves many questions unanswered, including the specific discriminatory acts, the local party's rationale, the outcome of Campanale's costs claim, and whether the party will change its selection policies. The case has ignited scrutiny over religious liberty in party selections and the wider implications of the Liberal Democrats' settlement.