JP in gay-adoption sacking suing the health secretary
Lord Chancellor also facing legal action
A former magistrate and NHS director fired for expressing his views on gay adoption is suing health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Richard Page has taken the action after being told he cannot apply for any other board-level position.
He was sacked in March following 15 years working as a magistrate in Maidstone and Sevenoaks after he suggested on national television that it was natural and in the interests of a child to be brought up by a mother and father.
The devout Christian initially made comments about the suitability of same-sex parents during a family court case in 2014.
After an NHS employee complained, the 70-year-old was also suspended from his position as non-executive director on the board of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) because his com- ments were held to ‘undermine’ the confidence of staff.
After his term finished, the father of three was rejected from reapplying and told by NHS Improvement’s Termination of Appointment Panel he would be prohibited from taking on a senior position at any other trust.
Last week, Mr Page, from Headcorn, launched a legal case against the NHS at an employment tribunal on the grounds of religious discrimination under the 2010 Equality Act.
He is pursuing a similar case against the lord chancellor for his sacking as a JP.
At the time of Mr Page’s suspension, KMPT chairman Andrew Ling wrote to the NHS Trust Development Authority, saying Mr Page’s comments and continued involvement with KMPT would have a major impact on “the perception of living the trust values”.
Mr Ling added: “The recent publicity you have courted is likely to further undermine the confidence staff, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered staff, have in the leadership of the trust.”
Mr Page, of Grigg Lane, said he is the victim of political correctness, adding: “I think we are becoming less tolerant as a society. It is quite interesting that people really feel they can’t say things because of political correctness.
“I have had an amazing number of people contacting me, and coming up to me to say well done.”
Andrea Minichiello Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre, is representing Mr Page.