Christian social worker appeals employment discrimination case in London

Christian social worker Felix Ngole has returned to the Court of Appeal in London to challenge a legal decision regarding his discrimination claim against the mental health charity Touchstone Leeds. The dispute began in 2022 when Touchstone withdrew a job offer after discovering Ngole’s online posts concerning his Christian views on marriage and sexuality. Although a second interview was conducted, the charity ultimately declined to reinstate the offer.

An initial Employment Tribunal ruled that the charity engaged in direct discrimination by withdrawing the offer but upheld the decision not to reinstate him. Following an appeal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal identified flaws in that analysis and ordered a reconsideration. Ngole is now seeking to avoid a return to the same tribunal panel, arguing that the existing facts already establish discrimination. His legal challenge also addresses broader questions regarding whether employers may subject job applicants to additional questioning or exclude them based on assumptions about how their religious beliefs might influence their professional conduct.