Displaying items by tag: suspension

Christian nurse Jennifer Melle has returned to work after more than ten months of suspension following an incident involving a transgender prisoner. She was disciplined after referring to the patient as ‘mister’ while speaking with colleagues, despite reporting that she had faced racial abuse and physical threats during the encounter. Although her NHS trust has confirmed it will take no further action, she remains under investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council over the language used and for speaking publicly about her treatment. Melle, a south London nurse with twelve years of service, is pursuing an employment tribunal, alleging harassment, discrimination and breaches of freedom of belief. She has expressed gratitude for support received throughout the ordeal, especially by the Christian Legal Centre.

Reform UK has suspended a campaign figure in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which they hope to win, after reported social media posts containing racist and misogynistic remarks. Adam Mitula, said to be involved in candidate Matt Goodwin’s campaign, allegedly questioned the scale of the Holocaust and made offensive comments about Jewish women and transgender people. He claimed that the posts were taken out of context, and angrily defended his reputation. Reform UK declined to comment on internal disciplinary matters. Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell urged Goodwin to distance himself from the remarks, warning that failure to do so would suggest tolerance of such views. The controversy comes during a closely watched contest in which Goodwin has positioned the vote as a challenge to Keir Starmer, focusing his campaign on borders, crime and cultural issues. Update: the Green Party won the by-election with a large majority. See

Serbian judo champion Nemanja Majdov has been suspended for five months by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for making the sign of the cross during the Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old did this before his round of 16 match, violating the IJF's code of ethics, which prohibits religious gestures on the field of play. Majdov had previously been warned in 2018 and 2022, making this his third violation. Responding on social media, he expressed no regret for his actions. Rather, he affirmed his faith, stating that God is central to both his personal life and career, and vowed to return to competition next year with renewed determination. Despite his suspension, Majdov remains proud of his accomplishments, including winning the 2023 European Championship and three world medals. The IJF stated that the rules aim to ensure respect and equality for all cultures, religions, and orientations within the sport. Religious expressions are allowed outside the field of play but not during competitions.