Lorna Young v Manchester City Council, Employment Tribunal, May 2026

[Mmmnotsure]

Lorna Young is taking her former employer, Manchester City Council, to Employment Tribunal. The case began today. It is being live tweeted by Tribunal Tweets https://x.com/tribunaltweets
and coverage is also available on their Substack
https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/lorna-young-vs-manchester-city-council

Lorna Young was Equality Team Manager at MCC. She was dismissed, among other grounds, for her social media activity.

Lorna Young is gender critical and Catholic, and opposes surrogacy. She is claiming unfair dismissal, and discrimination and harassment because of religion or belief, and disability.

NR - the essence of her ground of appeal was that she was treated differently than people without the GC belief
AH - I agree that she was treated differently

This seems like a bit of a bombshell admission?

Yes, it's the lack of clear answer, and no immediate follow-up that I find frustrating. And relying on the judge to "see" things is risky as well, although I understand that's the nature of the beast. I would rather not have to hope that this judge can see things more clearly than the Peggie judge did.
I am just feeling cynical about the whole thing today, I suppose.

In this case they could have inverted Barry’s phraseology? He’s got a charming turn of phrase doesn’t he?!

Advocacy itself is a skill. When a barrister is asking a question they aren't necessarily expecting an answer to agree.

They are building their case. The evidence they draw the witnesses attention to supports their case. They make that case in submissions.

If the witness evades - it goes to the evidence that they were evasive.

NR - in fact the only way that GC people can work at MCC is if no one knows they are GC.
AH - not correct

The fact that her team found out she was GC, went searching online for an anonymous social media account, whipped themselves into a fury, got the support of higher management for their witch-hunt and pushed their work colleague to the point of suicide is entirely incidental and not representative of MCC policy

J - you say a decision in a contested space, how aware of the debate online/offline were you
AH - I would describe myself as an interested observer, get my info from mainstream media

So completely in the dark then?
Reliance on mainstream media probably means that AH doesn’t have a clue other than that GC views are contested and it’s a “culture war” that nasty wims should give up….

Well of course.....

"I read the Guardian of course so I am up to speed on what a nasty bunch these gender critics are."

Well it’s not policy but from the POV of the managers, I expect this team scared the shit out of them. If they can’t get Lorna out, then they’ll look for a bigger scalp. The question is whether any of them will break ranks to admit this - because that exposes them to the same risk/job loss… no safer to plough on and look like an idiot but keep your job

Tribunal Tweets
@tribunaltweets
·
9m
AM - NR suggested to you that JO's letter of dismissal ended with ref to trans motion, and I think the reference there is to the penultimate point,
AH - problems with the bundle, can you read out
AM - NR asked you to agree that the point was the trans motion,

J interjects, my note of that evidence is different,
AM - I may have misunderstood
NR - I did take her to that doc
AM - I can leave that there. NR suggested that SN had found C guilty of gross misconduct, did you consider that, did you have it in front of you

AM - do you recall whether you were provided with SN's draft report
AH - I cannot recall
AM - if we look at it, did you have it in front of you
AH - I don't think I did but I can't recall
AM - that's fine, in terms of conclusions,

AM - there's a section for report summary and conclusions, says there is a case to answer, would you recognise that as a case of gross misconduct
AH - I would say of misconduct
AM - is it a finding of misconduct
AH - no, a case to answer

[Now can hardly hear the judge but discussion among NR/AM/J about that para].
J - further discussions need to be had, will it be short or will it be longer and involve medical evidence
AM - don't know what NR will say
NR - don't think it will

J - now discussing dates to continue the hearing
[AM/NR whispering about dates]
[witness is unavailable]
NR - prefer 10/11 September, but can do either
AM - it is Miss Osborne's birthday on 11th, but unlikely to be giving evidence on 11th.

So AH has never been to a company sponsored 'awareness training' session?

This.

Failing to answer a question is often equally if not more revealing than giving a straight yes or no.

I hope to heaven that I remember this if I ever get quizzed on the stand by an opposing barrister.

There were a small group of us at MCC who wondered how this group of “leaders” coped in the outside world, without their snr leadership clique and protections, their positions as head cult members and their “holding the pen” and other such nonsense phrases. Profoundly self important in their little worlds where they could maybe talk a good ish talk but not much intelligence and analysis behind it all. Well, now we know for sure that they don’t actually cope very well at all.

I can identify with that!
I wonder if this experience might peak AH like NHSE witness who seemed to peak on the stand? AH might take a while longer but surely the penny is about to drop? She’s not giving Bumba vibes

I find it awful that Lorna has been waiting 3 years and now she has to wait further because someone wants to celebrate their birthday.

She nearly died, she moved country but someone’s birthday takes priority.

Isn't a MCC's proclamation that TWAW, TMAM etc., a major factor in the team's belief that a witch-hunt is the right thing to do?

Court adjourned until 21/22 September.

Email tribunal a few days before to get access.

TT is an amazing asset and I thank the team for their dedication to open justice. But sometimes it’s the gaping wall of silence after a question is asked that gives more insight than the words actually uttered.

Good point

Created an environment where bullies were tolerated and empowered to go harass colleagues.

Gender ideology - push every boundary beyond reason. And then go farther.

Tribunal Tweets
@tribunaltweets
·
6m

Later dates are 21/22 September
NR - my clerks have offered those later dates for another case, I'm happy to accommodate the birthday if it's important enough for the Rs.

J - any preference for remote or in person
NR - in person
AM - I had anticipated remote but can do in person

J - let's go on in person then. What are we going to do about disclosures and issues.

NR - I think we can agree matters between us, agreed chronology available, I'd like this week to agreed bundle
J - by 4 pm on Friday one of you will send one agreed list of issues, agreed chronology and updated bundle.

NR - that's fine

J - won't send a case management order, will trust this gets done. Anything else before adjourn?
AM/NR - nothing
J - to be clear, nothing further this week, the hearing will continue on 21/22 September

We are adjourned.
Court rises.
Morning session part 2 ends.
Case is part heard.

.. their positions as head cult members and their “holding the pen” and other such nonsense phrases

When expressed in a company management structure rather than day-to-day life, I have started to view believers more as 'communist local party officials' than cult members.

👏👏👏👏 to @JaneDoeKeepsReceipts for updating this thread from TT. There were a lot of us observing live this morning and I think that is probably in part down to you.

Only became aware through @Mmmnotsure creating this thread.

And only possible due to Tribunal Tweets. To all - please subscribe if you can. Vital work.

Credit to these women highlighting the injustices we all face if we dare to share a defended and legally protected opinion.

Will need to set a calendar reminder for September!

Is there any news coverage of this? I've googled 'Lorna Young' and this thread was one the first pertinent result. There was a twiX from Sonia Sodha re. the 'transage' bit nothing coming up from any of the news sites yet. I wasn't expecting the Manchester Evening News (it isn't called the MEN for nothing) but I'm surprised the Mail or the Telegraph don't seem to be aware.

Thank you again for updating @JaneDoeKeepsReceipts

Still open mouthed over here