The Liberal Democrat Party which has 72 MPs in the British Parliament has admitted religious discrimination against a Christian party member who had hoped to occupy one of those seats.
The party has agreed to pay an estimated A$500,000 in damages and legal costs to David Campanale, a former BBC investigative journalist and active Anglican churchgoer.
But so far, there’s no sign of any remorse or an apology.
David Campanale sued his own party after he was removed as the pre-selected candidate for a London seat which the party won in the 2024 general election.
Mr. Campanale claimed he was ousted by secular local activists who were angered by the fact he was an evangelical Christian who opposed abortion and assisted suicide.
LIB DEM ACTIVISTS “MOCKED AND ABUSED” CHRISTIAN MEMBER FOR HIS FAITH
He had previously stood in elections for the Lib Dems and served as a councillor before winning an internal selection contest for the seat in 2021.
However, within weeks, he said he came under intense scrutiny, harassment and suspicion from a small group of party activists.
He claimed they subjected him to an intense interrogation about his Christian beliefs, which his legal complaint likened to the “Spanish inquisition”.
He described one instance in which he was questioned and “mocked and abused in relation to his beliefs” by around 30 people at the home of the local party’s then-president Lord Tope.
The Lib Dems denied he was mocked and abused.
“THIS WAS RELIGIOUSLY AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT”
Speaking to Premier Christian News, Mr. Campanale said he was used to the “rough and tumble” of politics, but drew a clear line at what he experienced.
“I’ve been in politics for 40 year. I’m not complaining about that. Neither am I deterred by hurty words,” he said.
“Political abuse, when it’s political, is part of the cut and thrust of how we do politics in our country. It doesn’t come as a surprise “
“What is unacceptable is religiously aggravated harassment.”
“PARTY OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE SENT THESE FOOLS HOME”
He added that the situation became so toxic that some activists refused to campaign alongside him.
“Activists would say: Can you please let us know where the parliamentary candidate is campaigning, because we don’t want to be triggered if we bump into him on a dark night,” he said.
“The party officers should have sent these fools home,” Mr. Campanale stated.
“You have no part or place in a liberal party if you’re triggered by the presence of a Christian.”
“THERE IS NO SPACE FOR PRACTISING CHRISTIANS”
Mr. Campanale said his Christian beliefs, including his previous association with the Christian People’s Alliance, were targeted by activists seeking to remove him.
He also claimed that Luke Taylor, who is now the MP for the seat that could have been his, told him that the Christian-friendly Liberal Democrat Party which had previously included believers such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy was “over.”
He allegedly added that in the new secularised party: “There is no space for practising Christians.”
The party agreed Mr Taylor had said the Lib Dems had changed from being ‘Christian-friendly’, but denied a “secular party” was being built.
Last week in another about-face, it claimed: “The Liberal Democrats are home to people of all faiths and none, including many Christians.”
“Three Liberal Democrat MPs in neighbouring seats to Sutton and Cheam, which Mr Campanale was pre-selected to stand for, are practising Christians, including party leader Ed Davey,” the party statement added.
TENS OF THOUSANDS SIGN PETITION FOR DAVID CAMPANALE’S REINSTATEMENT
A petition for Mr. Campanale’s reinstatement was signed by more than 20,000 people, including bishops and former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams who said that it “may be impossible” for Christians to stand as Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates.
Sir Simon Hughes, a former Lib Dem deputy leader, who served as Justice Minister in a coalition government, criticised the “clearly illiberal, discriminatory, anti-Christian comments” against Mr. Campanale.
“It’s time for all political parties to recognise Christianity as the foundation of Britain’s democracy,” asserted David Campanale.
“For this reason, the historic faith of our nation must be celebrated — and defended.”
“PARTY MEMBERS STOOD BACK AS IF I WAS BEING KICKED ON THR GROUND”
Mr. Campanale has called on the Liberal Democrats to apologise after being illegally ousted.
“Many people in the Liberal Democrats are active Christians, but they will be dismayed that after the members voted for me in a democratic process, the activists said: ‘Why didn’t you disclose that you hold these Christian beliefs on issues of conscience?’”
“It’s sad that when the active support was needed of the tiers of appeal in the party of the different panels, they all stood back and joined in.”
“It was as if I was being kicked in the street, and instead of coming over to me and standing around and saying: ‘This cannot happen in a democratic party,’ they joined in, and they used the party procedures illegally.”
“NO REMORSE. NO REPENTANCE. NO APOLOGY.”
He said: “It’s multiple lawbreaking by the Liberal Democrats, and they’ve shown no remorse, no expression of repentance, [and] certainly no apology to the members in Sutton and the team who backed me.
“All those people are owed an apology.”
“Christians in public life need to hear from one of our biggest parties that it regrets what has happened, but they’re committed to change and that they will stand up for fundamental religious liberties in our country.”
So far there’s only silence.
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