The cautionary tale of the Christian teacher who criticised Ruth Davidson

When Richard Lucas, a maths teacher, uploaded a video criticising former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson for having what he called a ‘fatherless child’, he anticipated some controversy. But, nearly three years on, Lucas is still shocked by the reaction it sparked.

Lucas, who is a Christian, was hauled in front of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Finally, this month, a panel threw out allegations that his comments were ‘offensive and discriminatory’ and allowed him to continue to work as a teacher.

In reality the decision means little: the controversy sparked by the video, in which Lucas says that ‘children have got a right to a male role model and a female role model within the home’, makes it difficult to envisage a return to the classroom any time soon. He tells me:

‘I would be very surprised if any school in Scotland would employ me now.