‘Treated like wicked witch!’ Lib Dems forced to pay £14k after BLOCKING gender-critical candidate from standing

A former Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate has won a discrimination case after being suspended for wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Woman: Adult Human Female” and expressing gender-critical views.

Natalie Bird, 45, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, sued the Liberal Democrats after facing what she described as unfair targeting for her beliefs.

The single mother claimed that she was “treated like a wicked witch” as she faced a campaign of discrimination.

It was even alleged that “the complaints system was weaponised against her”.

Bird wore the controversial t-shirt shortly after being nominated as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Wakefield in December 2018.

She subsequently received a letter suspending her membership and was notified of a formal disciplinary hearing for allegedly breaching the Liberal Democrats’ code of conduct.

The Liberal Democrats eventually picked Jamie Needle to stand in Wakefield, finishing behind the Tories, Labour and Brexit Party after receiving just 1,772 votes in the 2019 General Election.

Bird’s case covered multiple issues, including the handling of complaints against her, her appeal prospects, removal as a parliamentary candidate and exclusion from the 2020 party conference.

The court also heard that Bird “holds the belief that sex and gender are separate” and maintains “gender critical” views.

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In her ruling, Judge Jane Evans-Gordon noted there was “no evidence that Bird’s views ever crossed the line and became transphobic or abusive”.

The judge awarded compensation, stating the level reflected that the discrimination was not “a one-off or an isolated incident” and likely had “a significant impact on Ms Bird”.

While the compensation accounted for the unfair process of her removal as a prospective parliamentary candidate, it did not cover her lack of career progress or networking opportunities.

Bird had initially asked for £90,000 for injury to feelings for breach of her membership contract and rights under the Equality Act.

Welcoming the decision on her GoFundMe page, Bird said: “I am delighted to report that I have been awarded £14,000 in damages in my case against the Liberal Democrats. I have also been awarded 90 per cent of my costs up to 1 August 2024. All this vindicates me seeing the case through to a final hearing.”

Bird’s GoFundMe page raised more than £88,000 to cover legal costs.

In a significant note, Judge Evans-Gordon emphasised that political parties retain the right to select their candidates based on policy alignment.

“Political parties are entitled to choose candidates who support party policies and remove those who disagree with the policies.

“They cannot be expected to choose those who publicly disagree and undermine party policy,” the judge said.

Responding to the ruling, a Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “This case relates to events that took place in 2019 under a different complaints system that has since been changed.”