Lib Dems face call for inquiry into deselection of election candidate

Separately, the Liberal Women’s Voice group, which says it is campaigning “to ensure that women’s gender-based rights, representation and voices are fully respected within the party”, has threatened to take its concerns about discrimination within the Liberal Democrats’ ranks to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The group’s chief executive, Zoe Hollowood, this week wrote to the party’s chief executive, Mike Dixon, arguing that complaints made by its members had been dismissed but complaints about them were progressing “routinely”.

Under the Equality Act, religion or belief, including holding gender-critical views, can be protected against discrimination.

The law applies to Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate equality legislation.

If a review of the party’s complaints system by the Federal Oversight and Review Committee is not completed by September, it should be handed over to an independent outside reviewer and completed by the end of the year, the letter states.

The party leader is understood to have responded by saying he would prioritize support to complete the review.

Last year the party was ordered to pay £14,000 to former parliamentary candidate Natalie Bird, who said she was expelled from the party and banned from becoming an MP because of her views on gender discrimination.

And in 2024, an unnamed parliamentary investigator funded more than £11,000 to launch an employment tribunal case against an unnamed Liberal Democrat MP who claimed she was sacked after voicing her belief that “sex is real, unchangeable and important”.

It appears the case was settled out of court.

A party spokesman said: “The Liberal Democrats are home to people of all faiths and no faith, including many Christians.

“Three Liberal Democrat MPs in the neighboring seats of Sutton and Cheam practice the Christian religion, including party leader Ed Davey.”