Former Liberal Democrat candidate seeks damages for religious discrimination

David Campanale, a former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in the United Kingdom, is pursuing a civil claim for over $1 million in damages, alleging he was removed from his candidacy due to religious discrimination. Campanale, a former BBC journalist, was selected to run for the Sutton and Cheam constituency in 2021 but was removed by the party in August 2023. The Liberal Democrats have admitted to direct and indirect discrimination under the Equality Act and acknowledged failures in handling his internal complaints.

Campanale’s claim includes lost earnings, pension contributions, and damages for injury to his feelings, citing instances where activists mocked his faith and suggested he was seeking a "martyrdom." He further alleges that party members told him his religious views were incompatible with the party's secular nature. In response, the Liberal Democrats have characterized the claim as "grossly inflated." While the party acknowledges a liability of approximately $31,100, they dispute the majority of the financial categories requested by Campanale. The County Court at Central London is set to determine the final amount of compensation.