British Leyland UK Ltd v Swift [1981] IRLR 91 is a UK labour law case, concerning unfair dismissal, now governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Swift was dismissed when one of the company's car's tax discs was found in his vehicle.
Swift was guilty of gross misconduct but the dismissal was unfair because it was too severe a penalty considering years of good service.
Lord Denning MR held that the decision was perverse and would be reversed.
He noted the tribunal said: … a reasonable employer would, in our opinion, have considered that a lesser penalty was appropriate'.