by Adam James Pollock, UnHerd
The Liberal Democrats have always prided themselves on being the party of tolerance and pluralism in British politics. Their “values” include the claim that an active state should “ensure that no one is held back by… discrimination”, including based on beliefs. It is therefore interesting that the leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey, is under pressure to apologise after the party admitted discriminating against a prospective parliamentary candidate because of his Christian views.
Former BBC journalist David Campanale won the selection process in Sutton and Cheam to be the party’s candidate ahead of the 2024 general election. He was then deselected by the Lib Dems after being “mocked and abused” for his Christian beliefs, in one instance being “asked if he was enjoying his martyrdom just like Jesus did”. The party has since admitted wrongdoing and has agreed to pay Campanale damages, and now faces a legal bill in excess of £250,000.
This is far from the only high-profile scandal endured by the Lib Dems in recent years over a perceived atmosphere of anti-Christian sentiment. In 2017, then-party leader Tim Farron stepped down from his role after stating that he found it “impossible” to reconcile being a committed Christian and the leader of such “a progressive liberal party”. He criticised his own party, saying: “I seem to be the subject of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith is in. In which case, we are kidding ourselves if we think we yet live in a tolerant, liberal society.”