Another recusal as tribunal member steps down over ‘real possibility of bias’

Apr 4, 2024 by Jill

from Christian Concern:

For the second time in a fortnight, a panel member presiding over a high-profile Christian freedoms case was forced to recuse himself due to a ‘real possibility of bias.’

Leeds Employment Tribunal heard the case of Christian social worker Mr Felix Ngole, who was supported by the Christian Legal Centre.

Mr Ngole brought a case against Stonewall backed Touchstone Support Leeds, who recruit on behalf of the NHS, after he was told that he had to ‘embrace and promote LGBTQ+ rights’ or be seen as unemployable.

Accepted on to his ‘dream job’ as a Mental Health Support worker, Mr Ngole was devastated when he was then told that, because he had once won a landmark legal case over his right to freedom of speech, he could not be employed because of his Christian beliefs.

Mr Ngole brought claims of direct discrimination, harassment, and breaches of the Equality Act 2010 against Touchstone.

Before Mr Ngole was to begin giving evidence in the case, however, concerns about a ‘perception of bias’ in regard to one of the presiding panel members was brought to his legal team’s attention.

‘Total’ support for LGBTQI+ workers

Sitting alongside Employment Judge Jonathan Brain was Mr Mohammad Taj, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) between 2013/14.

It was discovered that in a foreword to a booklet celebrating Mr Taj’s time as TUC president, he was described as a: “TUC President supporting equality for all and explicitly for disabled and LGBT workers.”

Under his watch he gave a speech at the TUC’s LGBT conference on 27 June 2014, where he gave ‘total’ support to the LGBT worker’s rights and said: “LGBT communities – LGBT workers – are victims as much as anyone.

Mr Taj said:

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