Christian begins appeal over discrimination ruling

Felix Ngole says the earlier ruling "sets a dangerous precedent"

A Christian social worker who was rejected for a job after a company discovered his views on homosexuality has begun an appeal against an employment tribunal ruling on the matter.

Felix Ngole, from Barnsley, was originally offered a role at Touchstone Leeds in 2022, but it was revoked after it emerged he thought homosexuality was a sin.

He was asked to attend a second interview, but claimed his religious beliefs had been discriminated against when he was not given the job despite being deemed the "best qualified".

Last year a judge ruled the company's actions were "proportionate" and "justified," but Mr Ngole said earlier the ruling set "a dangerous precedent".

The Cameroon-born grandfather previously won a Court of Appeal case against Sheffield University, which had wanted to prevent him from completing his social work degree after it became aware of a Facebook row in which he said homosexuality and same-sex marriage were a sin.

Touchstone found Mr Ngole was the best-qualified candidate for post of hospital discharge mental health support worker and offered him the job, but after management conducted a Google search and discovered reports on the Sheffield University case, the offer was withdrawn.

He was called back for a second interview, which he previously said felt like "an interrogation".

'Free speech'

Lawyers for Mr Ngole challenged the ruling of employment judge Jonathan Brain at a hearing in London earlier and set out the legal grounds of their appeal.

The judge had found Mr Ngole was directly discriminated against when Touchstone rescinded the initial job offer, but rejected further claims of discrimination around the second interview and the final decision not to give him the job.

During the 2024 hearing, Touchstone argued that vulnerable LGBT service users requiring mental health support could be more likely to harm themselves if they found out Mr Ngole's views about homosexuality.

He had argued his religious views would not prevent him from looking after an LGBT service user.

Speaking before the appeal hearing Mr Ngole said the UK was "no longer [...] a bastion of free speech and expression."

"The ruling ultimately sets a dangerous precedent as it gives employers the freedom to block Christians, and anyone who doesn't promote LGBTQI+ ideology, from employment.

"If I was discriminated against when they withdrew the job offer then I don't see how I was not also discriminated against when they refused to reinstate me after the second interview."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North