A former Liberal Democrat candidate has won a legal challenge against the party after being prevented from standing as an MP because of his Christian beliefs.
David Campanale was blocked from sitting as a Liberal Democrat candidate for Sutton and Cheam in the 2024 General Election.
The Liberal Democrats accepted they had broken equality law and will now pay damages to Mr Campanale and legal costs, estimated at around £250,000.
The longtime Lib Dem activist was selected as his party’s parliamentary candidate in their south west London heartland in January 2022, a seat that the Lib Dems went on to win at the general election two years ago.
According to the legal reports, Luke Taylor, who later replaced Mr Campanale as the candidate, was a key figure identified as a "ringleader" in the campaign to deselect the former BBC journalist.
Mr Taylor now sits as the Sutton and Cheam MP.
Mr Campanale launched a legal campaign, accusing the Liberal Democrat Party of unlawful discrimination against him on account of his Christian beliefs.
The party, which has acknowledged it violated the equality law between 2022 and 2024, has reported being split over the handling of the case.
Questions about the judgment of the party leader, Sir Edward Davey, have been raised, GB News understands.
Documents reveal his office took charge of handling Campanale’s treatment from the very beginning of the dispute back in January 2022.
David Campanale was blocked from sitting as a Liberal Democrat candidate for Sutton and Cheam in the 2024 General Election
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However, Sir Ed allowed the matter to escalate despite the local party chairman's warning that the allegations against Mr Campanale from his opponents were "baseless and distorted".
Mr Campanale told GB News: "I know Sir Ed Davey well, having been vice-chair of his own neighbouring constituency party.
"Despite Ed having criticised ‘growing intolerance within progressive, liberal parties the world over,’ he has overseen disgraceful discrimination in his own party and on his own doorstep.
"His would-be party of lawmakers have been unmasked as arrogant lawbreakers."
The Liberal Democrats’ legal defence documents explicitly renounce the Party’s Christian roots, declaring it was a "statement of fact" the "party of past prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs, such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy, was over".
The party also told the court it "had a right to deselect" candidates who "expressed religious beliefs" which conflicted with the fundamental values set out in its charter or agreed policy positions.
During his deselection, Mr Campanale was subjected to multiple rounds of interrogation in front of Lib Dem activists, including during interviews and panels.
The party is understood to have been warned that these hearings were unlawful at the time.
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Mr Taylor was promoted by Sir Ed Davey and is now the party’s spokesman for London
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During a two-hour session shortly after selection at the home of local party president, Lord Tope, Mr Campanale is understood to have been repeatedly harassed for his Christian beliefs.
The meeting, described as a "kangaroo court" and "mob rule" by Sutton Lib Dem chair Sally Ericsson, the former BBC journalist, was asked if he was enjoying his "martyrdom, just like Jesus".
Mr Campanale claims that he was told to abandon his views on non-whipped issues in Parliament, like abortion, or risk activists boycotting his candidacy.
He also said that during party campaign events, young LGBT Lib Dems demanded "trigger warnings" due to the candidates Christians beliefs.
In a court order sealed by His Honour Judge Johns KC, the party admitted that its conduct constituted unlawful religious discrimination.
The party admitted multiple breaches of the Equality Act 2010, including harassment and victimisation.
The party is understood to have been warned that these hearings were unlawful at the time
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It accepted it had allowed Mr Campanale to be "mocked and abused in relation to his beliefs".
Mr Taylor, who is mentioned multiple times in the court documents, was promoted by Sir Ed Davey and is now the party’s spokesman for London.
Mr Campanale’s barrister, Alasdair Henderson, the Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, said it was "extremely disappointing" that the Liberal Democrats had failed to uphold the law over such a long period.
Mr Henderson, who led the investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party, added: "The Liberal Democrats have admitted that Mr Campanale was subject to several significant acts of unlawful direct and indirect discrimination because of his Christian beliefs, as well as victimisation when he tried to engage the party’s internal processes to defend himself.
"It is extremely disappointing to see any political party failing to uphold the law in this way.
"Hopefully, the Liberal Democrats will learn from this case and clearly re-affirm that they welcome members from any faith, will prohibit all forms of unlawful discrimination, and will protect freedom of conscience at all levels of the party."
Mr Taylor now sits as the Sutton and Cheam MP
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Mr Campanale added: "For this victory, I thank God, my legal team at Ai Law and my supporters, especially Sir Simon Hughes and friends in the Lib Dem Christian Forum, who stood by me throughout.
"I also thank the 1,514 people who crowdfunded my case through CitizenGo.
"It’s time for all political parties to recognise Christianity as the foundation of Britain's democracy. For this reason, the historic faith of our nation must be celebrated - and defended."
A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "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 Cheam are practising Christians, including party leader Ed Davey."
Luke Taylor MP has also been contacted for comment.