David Campanale, a former BBC journalist who was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Sutton and Cheam in 2021, is currently pursuing a civil case against the party in the Central London county court. Campanale alleges that his removal as a candidate in August 2023 was the result of religious discrimination against his Christian faith, which he argues effectively ended his political career.

The legal proceedings center on the valuation of the damages resulting from this removal. While the Liberal Democrats have formally admitted to the claims of direct and indirect discrimination, there is a significant disagreement regarding the financial impact of the party's actions. Campanale is seeking £790,000 in compensation, arguing that this figure reflects the loss of his career prospects. Conversely, the Liberal Democrats have suggested that the appropriate compensation is closer to £22,800.

The case highlights a rare instance where a political party has admitted to discriminatory practices while contesting the scale of the harm caused. The court is now tasked with determining the final settlement amount based on the evidence presented by both the claimant and the party regarding the long-term professional consequences of the deselection.