GAY BANKER SUES FOR £5MILLION

A gay banker who claims he was fired because of his sexuality is taking his case to an industrial tribunal and suing the bank for £5m in London.

The former global head of equity trading, Peter Lewis, 43, says he was sacked by HSBC because he is openly gay, however, HSBC says he lost his £1m-a-year job in February 2005 because of gross personal misconduct.

It says his dismissal followed allegations of sexual harassment lodged by another HSBC employee.

Mr Lewis is suing the bank for £5m – a record amount since anti-homosexual discrimination laws were brought in 15 months ago. Alison Downie, who is representing Mr Lewis, said: “My client maintains he would not have been dismissed but for his sexual orientation.”

By Matt Sibley

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