Labour candidate ordered to pay ex-girlfriend, councillor, £11,000 for unfair dismissal

The following month, after Mr Mahmood’s father-in-law died, Ms Cohen sent him a “rude and insensitive” email, concluding: “I am amazed every day by the shenanigans in the parliamentary office.”

Mr Mahmood subsequently launched formal disciplinary action against Ms Cohen, making five allegations against her, including her emails, which led to his dismissal of her in January 2021.

He told her: “You have repeatedly disrespected me, insulting me and copying additional people into your emails to intimidate me, make me feel uncomfortable and damage my reputation.

“I believe that your actions have potentially damaged my reputation and that your actions have made me feel harassed and bullied.”

Victory for wrongful dismissal

Ms Cohen took him to court and won her claims for wrongful dismissal in connection with the process and for having suffered damages as a result of her whistleblowing.

However, her complaints of religious discrimination and harassment – ​​she was the only Jewish person on Mr Mahmood’s staff – were dismissed.

The panel concluded that while his actions may have amounted to serious misconduct, the manner in which his dismissal was carried out was unfair.

Furthermore, Mr Mahmood’s decision to cut off all contact with her after her allegations in January 2020 was wrong, the court found.

Although his claim for unfair dismissal was upheld, the tribunal found that his behaviour constituted “gross misconduct”. As a result, his total compensation was reduced by more than £50,000.