Judge rules backing Brexit is not a protected belief

Backing Brexit is not a protected belief under equalities law, an employment tribunal has ruled as a former Ukip councillor was found to have been sacked for sharing offensive social media posts about immigrants.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Colette Fairbanks was fired by drug and alcohol charity Change Grow Live over the offensive posts but lost a claim that she was bullied and harassed by her employer for supporting Britain’s departure from the EU.

She argued that her political views were philosophical beliefs, protected by the Equality Act, pointing to her support for Brexit, opposition to illegal immigration and her desire for the UK to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights.