Your views may hold you back

Rodney Hylton-Potts writes;

I work for a large company and have recently become involved in my spare time with the BNP. My line manager has suggested that it might cost me a promotion and future career prospects if I remain a dedicated campaigner. Apparently, my views have upset someone higher up. Can they do that?

Yes. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) impacts on the extent to which UK law protects discrimination on the grounds of political beliefs. The issue was raised by a court case involving a bus driver who was dismissed when he was elected as a councilor for the BNP. The European court ruled that UK laws are deficient in this area. Until the law is changed, there is no protection for actions short of dismissal.

You have very limited protection should you end up at a disadvantage as a result of political beliefs.

For now, if you wish to progress at work rather than as a campaigner, I suggest you avoid publicising your beliefs.