Teh One Who Knocks
11-26-2012, 12:21 PM
BBC/Reuters
A British couple who acted as foster parents for three children have had them removed from their care because of their political views.
A local authority in northern England said it took the decision after discovering the foster parents supported the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP).
It said it was concerned about the party's policies on immigration and the fact the children were not white.
Speaking to the BBC, Joyce Thacker, strategic director of children and young people's services at the council, said she had to decide whether some foster placements were appropriate for particular children.
"These [particular] children are from EU migrant backgrounds and UKIP has very clear statements on ending multiculturalism, [on] not having that going forward, and I have to think about how sensitive am I being to these children," she said.
UKIP's leader Nigel Farage condemned the council's move.
"We are a non-racist, non-sectarian political party... They (the couple) were giving those children love and stability and all the things they need," he said.
"They have been discriminated against.... on the basis that they support a party that says we shouldn't be part of the European Union and we should control our borders and that is the most appalling prejudice."
'Indefensible decision'
The British government, led by the Conservative Party, has even stepped in to comment on the case.
Education secretary Michael Gove slammed the decision by the Labour-controlled Rotherham council as "indefensible".
"The problem of political correctness has bedevilled adoption, fostering and child protection for too long," he said.
"We've had a situation where people have put the supposed ethnic or cultural needs of children ahead of their real needs.
"And that has meant that children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds have been in care for longer, rather than being placed for adoption quickly.
"This decision is arbitrary, ideological, indefensible."
Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said political affiliation should not affect fostering prospects.
"What matters is the future of children in Rotherham and elsewhere and being a member of a political party like UKIP should not be a bar on fostering children," he said.
"So we need to find out the facts and the council urgently needs to get to the bottom of exactly what happened in this case."
UKIP has seen its popularity rise in recent months on the back of growing voter disenchantment with Britain's membership of the EU.
The party does not have a seat in Britain's parliament, but Mr Farage is a Member of the European parliament for the South East of England.
A British couple who acted as foster parents for three children have had them removed from their care because of their political views.
A local authority in northern England said it took the decision after discovering the foster parents supported the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP).
It said it was concerned about the party's policies on immigration and the fact the children were not white.
Speaking to the BBC, Joyce Thacker, strategic director of children and young people's services at the council, said she had to decide whether some foster placements were appropriate for particular children.
"These [particular] children are from EU migrant backgrounds and UKIP has very clear statements on ending multiculturalism, [on] not having that going forward, and I have to think about how sensitive am I being to these children," she said.
UKIP's leader Nigel Farage condemned the council's move.
"We are a non-racist, non-sectarian political party... They (the couple) were giving those children love and stability and all the things they need," he said.
"They have been discriminated against.... on the basis that they support a party that says we shouldn't be part of the European Union and we should control our borders and that is the most appalling prejudice."
'Indefensible decision'
The British government, led by the Conservative Party, has even stepped in to comment on the case.
Education secretary Michael Gove slammed the decision by the Labour-controlled Rotherham council as "indefensible".
"The problem of political correctness has bedevilled adoption, fostering and child protection for too long," he said.
"We've had a situation where people have put the supposed ethnic or cultural needs of children ahead of their real needs.
"And that has meant that children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds have been in care for longer, rather than being placed for adoption quickly.
"This decision is arbitrary, ideological, indefensible."
Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said political affiliation should not affect fostering prospects.
"What matters is the future of children in Rotherham and elsewhere and being a member of a political party like UKIP should not be a bar on fostering children," he said.
"So we need to find out the facts and the council urgently needs to get to the bottom of exactly what happened in this case."
UKIP has seen its popularity rise in recent months on the back of growing voter disenchantment with Britain's membership of the EU.
The party does not have a seat in Britain's parliament, but Mr Farage is a Member of the European parliament for the South East of England.