a key piece of wording in the article link in the OP...
the Equality and Rights Commission, which funded the case
now.. the EHRC..
The chairman of the Commission is Trevor Phillips who was previously chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality.
so Trevor Philips.. .
His long-standing friendship with Peter Mandelson (who worked with Phillips at LWT and was best man at his wedding to Asha Bhownagary) brought him close to the New Labour project and he became friends with Tony Blair.
Phillips joined the Labour Party in London in 1996.
He was awarded an OBE in 1999 for services to broadcasting. Later in 1999, Phillips ran to be Labour's candidate for Mayor of London.
Phillips was initially reported to be Tony Blair's preferred choice for the role