Can someone be racially discriminated against for their political beliefs?
Mr Redfearn was a postal delivery driver for the West Yorkshire Transport Service and was a ‘perfectly satisfactory employee’. However when it was discovered that he stood for and was elected as a local authority councillor representing the BNP he was dismissed. The reason given for his dismissal was ‘fear of violence in the workforce flowing from his political beliefs’. The Employment Appeal Tribunal however held that the phrase ‘on racial grounds’ must be interpreted widely and concluded that the decision to dismiss was significantly influenced by questions of race. Mr Redfearn was entitled to protection from race discrimination.