In London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham v Keable (Unfair Dismissal) [2021] UKEAT 2019-000733, Mr Keable worked for the Council as a Public Protection and Safety Officer in its Environmental Health Department. There was agreement that he was good at his job and that, before the matters leading up to his dismissal occurred, he had a clean disciplinary record [5].  The Council’s Code of Conduct for its employees set out standards of behaviour expected from all of the Council’s employees. It included provisions regarding politically-restricted posts – but Mr Keable’s post was not politically restricted [6]. Mr Keable was a member of the Labour Party, and it was agreed by both parties that he was free to be politically active, to attend political meetings and demonstrations, to discuss political views there and to state his opinions [7].

He attended a rally outside Parliament in March 2018 organised by “Jewish Voice for Labour” (a small pro-Corbyn, anti-Zionist grouping formed to act as a counter to the mainstream “Jewish Labour Movement”). He did so in his own time, in his personal capacity and wearing nothing to identify him as a Council employee [9]. Continue reading →