Andrea Williams reports on the Court of Appeal refusing permission to appeal 'Banned London Bus Advert' case.

Andrea Williams

Lord Justice Sullivan has refused permission to appeal the High Court ruling in the 'Banned London Bus Ad' case.

The judge said that London Mayor Boris Johnson had been untruthful when he claimed credit in the media for banning the Bus Ad but, despite this, maintained that the Mayor had not acted unlawfully.

Core Issues Trust, represented by barrister Paul Diamond, argued that the High Court ruling in the case should be appealed.

The Trust highlighted many deficiencies, including the failure to allow cross-examination of crucial witnesses, significant inconsistencies in witness statements, the failure of the Mayor's Office to preserve important email records and a reading of the evidence that denied the simple, plain meaning of the words on the page.

Nonetheless, Lord Justice Sullivan said that he was satisfied with the High Court's inquiry and ruling.

Core Issues Trust now faces demands to pay £100,000 in costs to Transport for London.

In 2012, hours before it was due to run, an advert placed by Core Issues Trust was banned, following the intervention of Transport for London and the Mayor of London.

The Christian charity, which seeks to help those facing unwanted same-sex attraction, took legal action because of the challenge to freedom of expression, especially of those who experience same-sex attraction but choose to leave a homosexual lifestyle or not to embrace a homosexual identity.