Political belief 


The EA 10 was not originally intended to cover political beliefs. However, some political beliefs are protected as philosophical beliefs under the EA 10. For example, in GMB v Henderson [2015] UKEAT/0073/14/DM, the EAT confirmed that a belief in left-wing democratic socialism can be a philosophical belief capable of protection, and that philosophical beliefs deserve the same protection under equality laws as religious beliefs.


In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found the United Kingdom in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights for failing to provide a remedy for dismissal for political beliefs (Redfearn v The United Kingdom [2012] ECHR 1878). This case led to a change in UK law: since June 2013, no service is needed for a claim for unfair dismissal where the reason (or main reason) for dismissal is or relates to an employee’s “political opinions or affiliation” (section 108, ERA 96). This does not mean an employee can never be dismissed for holding odious or extreme political beliefs inconsistent with those of the employer, but it does mean they cannot be dismissed without a proper hearing, applying normal standards of fairness and reasonableness. 


Northern Ireland has had laws in place protecting people against workplace discrimination based on their political beliefs for many years.