Christian magistrate returns to court in battle over adoption comments

As well as serving the courts, Richard Page also worked as a non-executive director of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

He was suspended from that role in March 2016.

He claims that he suffered discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

His case was originally rejected by an employment tribunal last year and he’s now seeking to appeal.

“My desire to do the best for the child has been the paramount consideration throughout my time as a magistrate on the family panel,” he said. “Yet by living out this belief, I have been drawn into a much bigger battle about my freedom, and the freedom of Christians more broadly, to express biblical truth in the public square.”

He’s being supported by the Christian Legal Centre. CEO Andrea Williams said: “Mr Page is a selfless and compassionate individual who has dedicated himself to public service. Yet he is another in a long-time of brave Christians who have suffered detriment for expressing biblical truth in the public sphere. We continue to stand by him in his legal challenge.”

Premier has contacted Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and is waiting for a response.

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A Christian magistrate who was dismissed after expressing his view that it was in a child’s best interests to be raised by a mother and a father was back in court on Tuesday after his return to a different job was blocked.