Lib Dems to review ‘faith inclusion’ after discriminating against Christian candidate

The Liberal Democrats are set to investigate how they treat those within the party who hold religious beliefs.

According to a leaked memo to Liberal Voices, the ‘Inclusion and Faith Review’ will be led by Lord Newby, a former party leader and member of the House of Lords. The investigation will examine the candidate selection process, inclusivity training, and the party’s complaints process.

Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrats admitted that it had unlawfully discriminated against Christian journalist David Campanale over “his protected beliefs”. He had been the party’s parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam, before activists within the party succeeded in having him removed.

‘No remorse’

In a memo, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Josh Babarinde MP emphasised that the party rejects “all discrimination and prejudice based on religion or belief and that we respect the right to freedom of conscience”.

Simon Hughes, a former deputy leader of the party, told the Guardian that the review “will allow the party to meet one of the two big objectives which David, [the] Lib Dem Christian Forum, I and others were seeking”.

But one source within the party said: “This review offers no remorse, no apologies to members misled so badly nor contrition towards the victims of breaches including Campanale and other Christians who once formed a bedrock of activists among our party’s nonconformist tradition. All should have had an apology by now.

“As it stands, the review looks like a ploy to impress a court judge as the review of Campanale’s case is meant to be published right before damages are considered.”

Gospel truth

Another source added: “The review doesn’t recognise the pain [Campanale’s case] brought on members, and it has to be asked why key individuals refused to act when they received complaints or requests to investigate complaints around Campanale’s deselection.”

In 2024, leaked legal papers revealed that the party defended Campanale’s deselection by claiming his “expressed religious beliefs against abortion, gay marriage and legal sex change conflicted with the fundamental values set out” in the party’s governing document.

The party’s defence document also admitted that he was told “the party of past prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs, such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy, ‘was over’”, even defending it as “a statement of fact reflecting the current policy platforms”.

But following his vindication, Campanale told The Christian Institute that “we continue to need to speak gospel truth into public life as far as we can”.