Christian registrar loses same-sex partnership case

Ms Ladele says she does not want to undermine people's human rights

A Christian registrar disciplined for refusing to conduct same-sex civil partnerships has lost her appeal against the ruling.

Lillian Ladele said she could not carry out same-sex ceremonies "as a matter of religious conscience".

In July 2008, an employment tribunal found north London's Islington Council had discriminated against her. This was overturned by an appeal tribunal.

The Court of Appeal in London upheld the appeal tribunal's ruling.

Bullying claims

At a recent hearing in London, James Dingemans QC, representing her, told a panel of three appeal judges that Ms Ladele had never wanted to undermine the human rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender communities.

But human rights laws must also be there to protect people with committed views about marriage, he said.

Ms Ladele, who became a registrar in 2002, claims she suffered ridicule and bullying as a result of her stance and said she had been harassed and discriminated against by the council.

The employment appeal tribunal ruled last December the earlier tribunal had "erred in law" and there was no basis for concluding that any "discrimination had been established".