A Christian magistrate who was sacked for saying it was better for children to be bought up by a father and mother rather than a gay couple has lost a legal battle to keep his job with the NHS.

Richard Page, 71, sued Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt after he was suspended from his role as a non-executive director at a hospital trust following complaints from gay and lesbian staff.

Richard Page sued Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt after he was suspended from his role as a non-executive director at a hospital trust

An employment tribunal has now ruled that the Kent and Medway NHS Trust was justified in refusing to reinstate him after he had expressed his views on television last year.

Andrea Williams, head of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Mr Page, said the judgment amounted to a ‘perverse attempt to silence Christian beliefs.’

Mr Page said that he was ‘very disappointed’ by the judgment and intends to appeal.