An addiction specialist has claimed that the University of York discriminated against him for his opposition to tobacco companies, which he says should be a protected belief.
The case has gone to an employment tribunal, where a judge will rule whether Professor Jim McCambridge’s position that companies should not be allowed to interfere with policy-making, amounts to a “protected philosophical belief’ under equality law.
McCambridge claims that he raised concerns of public health safety over the relationship between a fellow academic, who allegedly supports tobacco manufacturers, and UK universities. Details of the dispute emerged after the university officials unsuccessfully applied to have the case dismissed at a preliminary hearing in Leeds.
