Court of Appeal backs Islington in religious belief case

The Court of Appeal has upheld an Employment Appeals Tribunal ruling that a local authority was entitled to compel a registrar to register civil partnerships, even though she objected to officiating at those ceremonies on the grounds of her religious beliefs.

Ms Ladele had sought to restore the decision of the Employment Tribunal, which had concluded that the London Borough of Islington had been guilty of direct and indirect discrimination, and harassment.

Dismissing her appeal, The Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, said: “It appears to me that, however much sympathy one may have with someone such as Ms Ladele, who is faced with choosing between giving up a post she plainly appreciates or officiating at events which she considers to be contrary to her religious beliefs, the legislature has decided that the requirements of a modern liberal democracy, such as the United Kingdom, include outlawing discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on grounds of sexual orientation, subject only to very limited exceptions.”

The Appeal Court ruled that there were “no grounds to support” the Employment Tribunal’s conclusion that Islington was guilty of indirect discrimination. It pointed out that, amongst other things, Ms Ladele was employed in a public job and was working for a public authority, and she was being required to perform a purely secular task, which was being treated as part of her job.

Ms Ladele was refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

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