Michael Gove - Decision over UKIP couple fostering 'indefensible' ... ... Quite so, totally appalling says Gene

Michael Gove  - Decision over UKIP couple fostering 'indefensible'   ... Quite so, totally appalling says Gene

Joyce Thacker, Rotherham Borough Council: ''We had to seriously think about the long-term needs of the children''

Michael Gove has branded a decision by Rotherham council to remove three children from a foster couple because they belong to UKIP as "indefensible".

The education secretary said he would be investigating how the decision to remove the children came to be made.

The children - who are "not indigenous white British" - were removed by social workers who accused the unnamed couple of belonging to a "racist party".

The council said it was also launching an immediate inquiry.

The education secretary said the "wrong decision" was made "in the wrong way for the wrong reasons" and added the government would look at "what steps we need to take to deal with this situation".
'Dreadful signal'
Mr Gove added: "We should not allow considerations of ethnic or cultural background to prevent children being placed with loving and stable families.

"Any council which decides that supporting a mainstream UK political party disbars an individual from looking after children in care is sending a dreadful signal that will only decrease the number of loving homes available to children in need."

Councillor Paul Lakin, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families Services said: "Membership of a political party should not stop someone fostering children.

"The council takes it safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and always puts the needs of the children at the centre of that care.

"This was a decision taken by social services professionals and I have ordered an immediate investigation to establish the full facts of this decision."

Mr Lakin added he wanted the report on his desk by Monday morning.

The council's Strategic Director of Children and Young People's Services, Joyce Thacker, earlier defended her decision, saying it was influenced by UKIP's immigration policy.

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UKIP immigration policy

• An immediate five-year freeze on immigration for permanent settlement.
• After the five year freeze, a strictly controlled, points-based system similar to Australia to be introduced.
• An aspiration to ensure that future immigration does not exceed 50,000 people a year.
• Regain control of UK borders by leaving the EU.
• Repeal the 1998 Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Ensure British benefits are only available to UK citizens or those who have lived here for at least five years.
• End the active promotion of the doctrine of multiculturalism by local and national government

SOURCE: UKIP website

She said: "I have legal advice I have to follow for the placement of children and I was criticised before for not making sure their cultural and ethnic needs were met.

"If the party mantra is, for example, ending the active promotion of multiculturalism I have to think about that... I have to think of their longer-term needs.

Ms Thacker added she did not think UKIP were a racist party, but said they have "very clear" immigration policies which she could not ignore.
'Heads to roll'
The unnamed couple in their late 50s, who have been approved foster parents for seven years, were eight weeks into the placement when they were approached by social workers about their membership of the party.

The wife told the Daily Telegraph: "I was dumbfounded. Then my question to both of them was, 'What has UKIP got to do with having the children removed?'"

She said the social worker replied that UKIP have "racist policies" and the party wants immigrants "to be returned to their own countries".

UKIP's immigration policy states the party wants an "end [to] the active promotion of the doctrine of multiculturalism by local and national government", and urges Britain to leave the European Union (EU).

The party's leader Nigel Farage said he was "very upset and very angry" about the decision and called for "heads to roll" at the council.

He added: "This couple... have been fostering for many years and are very decent people. This was an awful shock to them, not to mention the upset for the children themselves."

He also accused the Labour-controlled council of bigotry towards his party.

Earlier, Labour leader Ed Miliband called for the council to urgently investigate the circumstances of the case.

He insisted: "Being a member of UKIP should not be a bar to adopting or fostering children.

"We need to find out the facts and the council urgently needs to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.

"There are thousands of children who need to be looked after, who need fostering, we shouldn't have the situation where membership of a party like UKIP excludes you from doing that.

"We need loving homes for children across the country. That can come in different forms, it's not about what political party you are a member of," he concluded.