A passenger offended by a Stagecoach Pride bus is facing a potentially significant legal bill after losing a claim for damages because he sued the wrong company.
Mark Jennings complained about the “Ride with Pride” logo displayed on vehicles running on the Whitstable to Canterbury route.
Mark Jennings complained about the “Ride with Pride” logo used by Stagecoach – but took legal action against the wrong company. Picture: Stagecoach
A devout Catholic, he claimed his religious beliefs meant he suffered “distress” from having to look at the rainbow livery.
Mr Jennings, who lives in Kent, sued Scotland-based Stagecoach Group Limited for compensation, arguing the company had breached the Equality Act 2010 by supporting the Pride Month initiative.
But a sheriff ruled the claim had been brought against the wrong company and should instead have been made against East Kent Road Car Company Limited, which trades as Stagecoach South East.
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane, sitting at Perth Sheriff Court in Scotland, dismissed the action and found Mr Jennings liable for the case expenses.
The Pride-themed livery was introduced in June 2024 to support Pride Month, incorporating a rainbow design and the words “Ride with Pride”.
The court heard the design was used at the discretion of individual operating companies, with just three of the 408 vehicles run by Stagecoach South East carrying the livery.
Sheriff McFarlane said: “The pursuer complained that, as a practising Catholic, the promotion of Pride events on bus services created a hostile environment for him, making it difficult to access Stagecoach buses without experiencing significant distress.”
The written judgment said East Kent Road Car Company Ltd had given “clear and unequivocal evidence” about the structure of the businesses.
Sheriff McFarlane said: “The East Kent Road Car Company Limited is a separate legal entity from Stagecoach Group Limited.
“We believe buses are for everyone…”
“At no time was a complaint made by the pursuer to East Kent Road Car Company Limited, trading as Stagecoach South East.
“At the time of the pursuer’s complaint, East Kent Road Car Company Limited was completely autonomous from the defender and made all its own branding, marketing and promotional decisions.
“The defender had no responsibility for branding, marketing or promotional decisions made by East Kent Road Car Company Limited, trading as Stagecoach South East.”
Following the ruling, a Stagecoach South East spokesman said the company “believes buses are for everyone”.
“We’re proud to celebrate the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to ensuring everyone feels welcome, respected and included when travelling with us,” they said.
“We recognise and respect that people hold different views and beliefs, and our Pride liveries reflect our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our customers, colleagues and communities.”