Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT Published: 25 July 2008
‘... don’t let it happen once more’
JEREMY Corbyn has signed a parliamentary motion urging a change in the law after a Christian marriage registrar won a legal battle against Islington Council. Lillian Ladele, who lives in Skinner Street, Finsbury, told an employment tribunal in May she had refused to “marry” homosexuals in the town hall because of her religious beliefs.
The tribunal upheld her complaint that she had been discriminated against after she was threatened with the sack for not performing civil partnership ceremonies.
Islington Council, which is appealing the decision, believes her controversial belief contradicted their employment codes.
The motion, tabled by Hackney MP Diane Abbott, urges ministers to amend the law to ensure that the public are treated equally.
The motion continues: “That this house believes that no public servant should be allowed to discriminate on this arbitrary basis and, should this case not be reversed on appeal, calls on the Government to clarify and amend the law to guard the public against discrimination and prejudice by public servants in the future.”