“Christian youth workers for example, should be entitled to protection from their employer,” said the Liberal Democrat Equality spokesman.

Commenting on the news that church leaders have warned new equality laws would force them to work against their faith, Dr Evan Harris MP said, “The Europe-wide laws which protect women and gay, divorced or unmarried people from work-place harassment and discrimination is intended to provide a narrow exemption for churches and mosques who appoint people to religious and representative roles.

“Christian youth workers for example, should be entitled to protection from their employer over their lawful private sexual behaviour and you should not be able to sack a good head-teacher for getting divorced.”