Christian Concern threatens legal action against Law Society

Christian Concern has announced that it has served a letter before action on the Law society, threatening to sue for breach of contract, after the society cancelled a conference to discuss ways of rallying support for traditional marriage.

Des Hudson, chief executive of the society, said at the time of the row in May that the society was proud of its role in promoting diversity and felt that the content of the conference “sat uncomfortably with our stance”.

Christian Concern transferred its event, entitled “One man. One woman. Making the case for marriage for the good of society”, to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

Williams said the centre also pulled out, the day before the event, on the grounds that it was “inappropriate”.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said this morning that letters before action had been sent to both the conference centre and the society, giving them seven days to respond before court papers were served on them.

Williams went on: “Gay rights’ group Stonewall has recently held its conferences in the Law Society and the QEII Centre, attended by government ministers.

“These conferences talk about promoting ‘equality and diversity’. Yet it would seem that neither the Law Society or the QEII Centre extends the same hospitality to Christian groups.

“In this brave new world dominated by an ‘equality and diversity’ culture, some groups seem to be more equal than others. Indeed, dare to challenge the new political orthodoxy and you’re left out in the cold and branded hateful and phobic.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. Their treatment of us is more akin to life in a totalitarian state, not the Britain that has historically led the world in promoting freedom.”

A spokeswoman for the society said: “We will defend ourselves against any subsequent claim. Of course we will not be commenting on our defence before or during this potential litigation.”