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Protecting philosophical beliefs, a decade on

11 November 2020 / John Bowers KC
Issue: 7910 / Categories: Features , Profession , Employment , Discrimination
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John Bowers reflects on Grainger plc v Nicholson—a case believed to be important about how to qualify ‘belief’

Some of the cases I appeared in were treated as important at the time but later they are overtaken by other cases; others were slow burners and take on importance when they are cited in other cases. The case of Grainger plc v Nicholson [2010] ICR 360, [2010] 2 All ER 253 was, however, clearly likely to be of importance at the time, as it was the first case to provide a definitive analysis of what was a philosophical belief that could be protected under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1660).

Originally as enacted, this had protected religions or ‘similar philosophical beliefs’ but this had been amended by s 77(1) of the Equality Act 2006 to remove the word similar. It is now consolidated into the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010). I appeared for the employers and came second to Dinah Rose—now also the

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