Lesbian barrister claims employer ‘crushed’ her spirit

A LESBIAN barrister with “gendercritical” views has accused her employer of trying to “crush her spirit” and withholding work from her.

Allison Bailey has launched discrimination action against Garden Court Chambers (GCC) and LGBT+ charity Stonewall, which GCC had been working with. In 2019, Ms Bailey founded the LGB Alliance, a group which argues there is a conflict between the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and transgender people – and opposes many Stonewall policies.

Giving evidence to an employment tribunal, taking place via videolink in London, the criminal defence barrister said that in 2019, she felt she was “offered inferior brief after inferior brief ” and blocked from more substantial cases. Clerks for GCC have said they did not withhold instructions to Ms Bailey or try to reduce the quality of work she was offered, the tribunal has heard.

Ms Bailey told the hearing: “The message I got which was frankly spiritcrushing.”

The tribunal continues.