Blocked Lib Dem candidate demands apology after unlawfully being ousted for his Christian beliefs

Georgia Pearce
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:37:26 +0000

A former Liberal Democrat candidate who was blocked over his Christian views has demanded an apology from Sir Ed Davey.

Speaking to GB News, David Campanale recalled his "harrowing" four-year legal battle and admitted he feels "let down" by the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Campanale was selected as Sutton & Cheam's prospective parliamentary candidate in 2022 before being removed by local activists.

The former BBC journalist, who served as a Liberal Democrat councillor from 1986 to 1994, was deselected after being accused of "not confessing his Christian beliefs enough".

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He told GB News: "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?'"

Despite first being approved as a prospective parliamentary candidate in 2017, Mr Campanale recalled being told by Sir Ed that there was a "smack of sour grapes" on the "losing side".

He said: "He gave his solidarity to me in the experience, however, not one Liberal Democrat in the parliamentary party, when they knew about the law being broken, spoke up about it, and that remains the case.

"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."

He added: "It is disturbing also that this could even happen in Britain today, and certainly in a major political party.

"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."

The former candidate explained that the court found that he was "subject to illegal direct religious discrimination" in the way the party procedures were used to "essentially punish me for how I might vote on issues of conscience".

He told GB News: "Lord Jonathan Marks Casey, a non-practising Jew, stood by me in a nine-hour appeal. He used his expertise to support me.

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"I was being interrogated for nine hours, and he stood by me throughout, and he kept on saying, 'There is no such thing as refusing to not disclose religious beliefs. This is an illegal act of religious discrimination'."

Mr Campanale is now calling for an "investigation" by the Liberal Democrats over their "multiple lawbreaking".

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.

"But all those people are owed an apology. Christians in public life need to hear from one of our biggest parties, 72 MPs, that they regret what has happened, but they're committed to change and that they will stand up for fundamental religious liberties in our country."

Mr Campanale also revealed that he is "still waiting" for an appeal over his deselection to be heard and expects to receive "damages" from his latest legal win.

He concluded: "My appeal against deselection has yet to be completely heard. The party in the core concession have agreed to pay damages, and costs tend to follow.

"But the issue now is what about all those people who were let down in Sutton and Cheam who wanted to vote for me, who were members who democratically chose me?"

In a statement, a Liberal Democrat spokesman told GB News: "This is an ongoing legal case, so it would not be appropriate to comment.

"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 Team are practising Christians, including the party leader, Ed Davey."