A month ago, members of some Federal Committees were sent an email telling them that Ed Davey and Josh Babarinde were setting up an “Inclusion and Faith Review”. The text is below:

Dear all,

The preamble to our Federal party Constitution makes clear that, as a party, we reject all discrimination and prejudice based on religion or belief and that we respect the right to freedom of conscience. 

As your Party leader and President we are determined to ensure that our party always lives up to these ideals – and all of those set out in our Constitution. Our rules and processes must not hinder us in achieving our aims and instead should encourage inclusivity for all in our party.  

To that end, today we are pleased to announce the launch of our Inclusion and Faith Review. 

This Review has been commissioned to listen to members and establish how we, as a Federalised party, can ensure that at every level of the organisation we are true to our Constitution and to our members. 

We are delighted that Lord Newby has agreed to Chair this important Review. I hope you will agree with us that Dick brings vast experience to this Review and we have every confidence he will steer it well.

The Review will explore three main areas: the party’s current candidate approval, selection and deselection processes; whether they are inclusive of different faiths; and the pastoral support offered to candidates. It will examine the current complaints and disciplinary processes: whether they are fair, timely, consistent, and protect those who raise concerns. Finally, it will also look into the current training and guidance for local party officers: whether it promotes accessibility and inclusivity, including on matters of conscience at party meetings, events and via party processes that local party officers administer.

We look forward to receiving the final report, along with the practical recommendations it sets out. 

The panel will be encouraged to ensure members of all faiths and none are able to contribute to the Review through wide consultation with candidates, AOs, responsible committees, volunteers and members.

We will be announcing the other members of the panel on the Review shortly and our aim is that the Review will conclude by the start of next year. 

We will ensure that the Review team has your contact details as a key consultee in this process. In the meantime, if you have any questions, secretariat support for this Review is being provided by  [redacted]  and she can be reached  via [redacted]

We are grateful for your cooperation as we undertake this important piece of work.

With best wishes,

Ed Davey MP,  Josh Babarinde MP

This was covered in the Guardian.

I assume (though I have not seen it confirmed) that this is a result of the party admitting it discriminated against David Campanale (there is a court hearing next January to determine damages).

There are all sorts of questions about the Review. It has not been discussed, let alone approved, by the Federal Board, yet the Review should not  access HQ data and systems without Board approval. In particular, it should not have access to data from the complaints system without that approval.

Equally important is the scope. It would seem relatively straightforward to ask members, candidates and others whether they feel they have been discriminated against because of their faith (or lack of faith), but this goes much further. What does “It will examine the current complaints and disciplinary processes: whether they are fair, timely, consistent, and protect those who raise concerns” mean? As written, that is a review of the whole complaints system, not just how it treats people of faith.

Also, on scope, there is the reference to “matters of conscience”, which goes further than religion. Does it, for example, include people with gender-critical views? That would open up a whole new area, and I would be surprised if it were intended to be covered.

There is also the question of timing. The note from Ed and Josh says the other members of the Review panel will be announced “shortly” and that the work will conclude by the start of next year. I wonder whether the intention is to be able to tell the media, when the Campanale damages hearing is reported in January, that the Review found no general problem of discrimination against Christians.

It’s all very odd, and some clarity from Ed and Josh would be helpful on the following points :

• It is intended that the Board will need to approve the Review ?
• What are the terms of reference and scope ?
• Who are the Panel Members
• What data will it be given access to?
• Given the delay do you still expect the Review to be completed by the beginning of 2027 ?

* Simon McGrath is a councillor in the London Borough of Merton, a member of the Federal Policy Committee, and serves on the Board of Liberal Britain (formerly Liberal Reform).