BELIEF in Scottish independence is a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act, an employment tribunal has ruled in a landmark discrimination case brought by an SNP councillor.

Christopher McEleny, the SNP group leader of Inverclyde Council, claims he was unfairly treated by his former employer the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after he announced his candidacy for the SNP deputy leadership role in 2016.

He was working as an electrician at an MoD munitions site in Beith, North Ayrshire, but says that around the time of the leadership hustings his security clearance was revoked and he was suspended.