Lloyds Bank worker blasts 'woke insidious culture' that saw him sacked for 'honest mistake'

Borg-Neal said the racial slur at a virtual Race Education For Line Managers course as part of Lloyds's Race Action Plan on July 16, 2021, and was fired following a tribunal that he called a "six-month show trial straight out of the Kremlin playbook."

The 58-year-old said he recognises the word is a highly inflammatory term, but denied having any kind of racist intent.

He told the Daily Mail: "Unlike several of my colleagues, I was looking forward to attending a mandatory 'race education' seminar arranged by my employer, Lloyds Bank. I was keen to learn more about this important issue and how best to treat my colleagues in the workplace.

"But little did I know, as I logged on to the virtual meeting on July 16, 2021, that it would mark the end of my near 30-year career. Because, in the meeting, I mistakenly uttered the N-word while trying to provide an example of what constitutes inappropriate language after the trainer's lack of understanding of a question I asked on the subject.

"I appreciate that it is a highly inflammatory term, but I had no racist intent at all. I suffer from dyslexia and as a result of my condition I often speak before my brain has had a chance to process my thoughts.

"This was a typical example of my disability clouding my judgment. It was an honest mistake. But months later - after a painful and protracted disciplinary process - I was fired for gross misconduct."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Nigel Farage likens Post Office scandal to debanking saga as ‘gulf’ in Britain expose
• British Airways crew 'shaken' after pilot kidnapped and tortured on stopover
• Royal Family unity has ‘crumbled away’ claims former butler

It was during the seminar when Borg-Neal asked the question: "If you hear a person of an ethnic minority use a word that might be considered offensive if used by a person not of that minority, how should you handle the situation?"

He said: "From the vacant expression of my trainer on screen and the thundering silence that followed my question, I assumed I had not been clear. This is nothing unusual for me given my dyslexia and I've developed a strategy of either rephrasing my point or providing an example.

"On this occasion - to my eternal regret - I chose the latter and added: 'The most common example being the use of the word 'n*****' in the black community.' In hindsight, of course, I should not have said the word out loud. But it was an honest mistake - and after all, this was a 'safe space' for saying 'clumsy things', wasn't it?

"Nothing could have prepared me for the reaction from the lead trainer. She quickly became extraordinarily agitated, shouting at me with wild hand gestures. I tried to apologise but was told to 'shut up' or else I'd be kicked out of the meeting."

Borg-Neal said he had suffered from the decision, both physically and mentally saying that he struggled to sleep and experienced severe back pain.

He also rescinded his position coaching at his nearby local junior rugby team at home in Andover, Hampshire.

Friends and family were reportedly worried for his emotional wellbeing.

Despite this, he claimed that he was still feeling absolute "shame and terror" as a result of his own actions.

Now, a tribunal has ruled that he was wrongfully dismissed and discriminated against by Lloyds on the grounds of his disability and was awarded almost £800,000 (of which he will only pocket £350,000 after legal costs and tax) in compensation.

As a result of his victory, Borg-Neal said that some of his former colleagues contacted him, sharing messages of support.

"Since news of my victory broke earlier this year, numerous former Lloyds colleagues have sent messages of support. Everyone knows that justice has finally been served.

However, he accused the banking group of being "hounded by woke ideologues" and that they were not "by your side" despite their adverts.

A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson told GB News: “We received the judgement in August and accept its findings.”