Lib Dems face call for inquiry into deselection of election candidate

Separately the group Liberal Voice for Women, which says it campaigns “to ensure that women’s sex-based rights, representation, and voices are fully respected within the party”, has threatened it could raise concerns about discrimination within the Liberal Democrats’ ranks with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The group’s chair Zoe Hollowood wrote to the party’s chief executive Mike Dixon this week arguing that complaints raised by its members were being dismissed while complaints about them are “routinely” progressed.

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

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

If a review of the party’s complaints system by its Federal Audit and Scrutiny Committee is not completed by September, the letter says, it should be handed to an independent external reviewer and completed by the end of the year.

It is understood the party’s chief executive has responded to say he will prioritise support for completing the review.

Last year the party was ordered to pay £14,000 to Natalie Bird, a former parliamentary candidate who says she was driven out of the party and barred from standing as an MP over her gender-critical views.

And in 2024 an anonymous parliamentary researcher crowd-funded more than £11,000 to bring an employment tribunal case against an unnamed Liberal Democrat MP arguing she had been dismissed after voicing her belief that “sex is real, immutable and important”.

It is understood the case has since been settled out of court.

A party spokesperson said: “The Liberal Democrats are home to people of all faiths and none, including many Christians.

“Three Liberal Democrat MPs in neighbouring seats to Sutton and Cheam are practising Christians including party leader Ed Davey.”