Former candidate sues Lib Dems after being suspended for wearing gender-critical T-shirt

A FORMER Lib Dem parliamentary candidate is suing the party for £90,000 compensation, claiming she was labelled a "far-Right bigot" for wearing a gender-critical T-shirt.

- Paul Keogh

Natalie Bird said she was hit by complaints from activist members when, days after she was picked in 2018, she wore a T-shirt at a meeting with the slogan "woman: adult human female."

Domestic abuse survivor Ms Bird, who is "passionate about the existence of safe spaces for vulnerable women", says she was called "an illiberal Terf" [trans-exclusionary radical feminist], suspended and later barred from standing as an MP.

The single mum and ex-prospective candidate for Wakefield, West Yorks, then sued for discrimination, and party representatives conceded the claim.

Equality

Ms Bird is asking Judge Karen Walden-Smith for £90,000 for "injury to feelings", breach of her membership contract and breach of her rights under the Equality Act 2010.