Lib Dems in religious row over candidate's deselection

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Willams has warned it may be “impossible” for Christians and people of other strong religious views to represent the Lib Dems after the party appeared to officially cast out two of the giants of its recent history.

- DAVID MADDOX

Lawyers acting for the party in a dispute with a former candidate, who was deselected over his Christian beliefs, have stated in their defence document that the party of former leader Charles Kennedy and Baroness Shirley Williams “was over”. Both Baroness Williams and Mr Kennedy were religious and held conservative views on issues such as abortion.

The stunning statement has caused ructions behind the scenes among Lib Dem MPs, many of whom are practising Christians, including leader Sir Ed Davey who had promised to end attacks on Christian beliefs.

The row has erupted over the deselection of former awardwinning BBC journalist David Campanale over his traditional Christian beliefs. Luke Taylor, the local councillor alleged to be at the forefront of forcing him out of Sutton and Cheam, the neighbouring constituency to Sir Ed’s Kingston seat, would subsequently be selected as the candidate and win the seat in the election in July.

Mr Campanale claimed that Mr Taylor had told him his Christian beliefs were incompatible with the Lib Dems. He further claimed that when he pointed out that Williams and Kennedy were also Christians with similarly conservative views on issues like abortion, Mr Taylor said the day of the party of Williams and Kennedy “was over”.

The party has now accepted that claim to be true and said Mr Taylor was correct.