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Ukip foster row couple threaten to sue council Ukip foster row couple threaten to sue council
(about 4 hours later)
The Ukip supporters who had three east European foster children taken away from them in November have threatened to sue Rotherham council after claiming they have effectively been blacklisted from fostering further children. The Ukip supporters who had three eastern European foster children taken away from them in November have threatened to sue Rotherham council after claiming they have effectively been blacklisted from fostering further children.
The couple, long-standing foster parents in their 50s, say they were informed by their fostering agency that the council was accusing them of "leaking" confidential information to the media about the children and their birth parents.The couple, long-standing foster parents in their 50s, say they were informed by their fostering agency that the council was accusing them of "leaking" confidential information to the media about the children and their birth parents.
The couple deny the allegations and say the claim – that they have breached confidentiality – "can be a career-ending accusation for foster parents".The couple deny the allegations and say the claim – that they have breached confidentiality – "can be a career-ending accusation for foster parents".
They said on Thursday: "If Rotherham metropolitan borough council (RMBC) are accusing us of a breach of confidentiality and do not issue a formal apology in order to clear our name we may be forced to seek legal action to protect our future as foster parents." They said on Thursday: "If Rotherham metropolitan borough council (RMBC) are accusing us of a breach of confidentiality and do not issue a formal apology in order to clear our name, we may be forced to seek legal action to protect our future as foster parents."
They claim they only went to the press about their case after the council and the external fostering agency, refused to apologise for the abrupt removal of the children last month. They say the only reason they were given at the time was that the council had been tipped off that they were Ukip supporters and that Ukip was a "racist party". They claim they only went to the press about their case after the council and the external fostering agency refused to apologise for the abrupt removal of the children last month. They say the only reason given at the time was that the council had been tipped off that they were Ukip supporters and that Ukip was a "racist party".
Michael Gove, the education secretary, branded the decision to remove the children "indefensible". Ordering an investigation, he said the "wrong decision" was made "in the wrong way, for the wrong reasons".Michael Gove, the education secretary, branded the decision to remove the children "indefensible". Ordering an investigation, he said the "wrong decision" was made "in the wrong way, for the wrong reasons".
A council spokesperson on Thursday denied the couple had been banned from fostering. He said in an email: "The council is not and never has been the couple's employer. Their future employment as foster carers is not a matter for the council, it is a matter for the agency which employs them."A council spokesperson on Thursday denied the couple had been banned from fostering. He said in an email: "The council is not and never has been the couple's employer. Their future employment as foster carers is not a matter for the council, it is a matter for the agency which employs them."
Before going public, the couple say they made three verbal demands: a full apology, an assurance that the words "children removed" would be taken from their fostering record, and some form of recompense for loss of earnings.Before going public, the couple say they made three verbal demands: a full apology, an assurance that the words "children removed" would be taken from their fostering record, and some form of recompense for loss of earnings.
They say they were also unhappy after learning that the agency and the council had been in discussion about their Ukip membership for three weeks before the children were taken away.They say they were also unhappy after learning that the agency and the council had been in discussion about their Ukip membership for three weeks before the children were taken away.
"At no point in this period of three weeks were they consulted, visited or informed of what was happening," said a spokesman for the couple."At no point in this period of three weeks were they consulted, visited or informed of what was happening," said a spokesman for the couple.
When neither the fostering agency nor the council met their demands, they say, the couple gave an interview to the Telegraph.When neither the fostering agency nor the council met their demands, they say, the couple gave an interview to the Telegraph.
The Guardian subsequently revealed there were a number of complex reasons behind the decision to place the children, who are of east European Roma origin, elsewhere. The Guardian subsequently revealed there were a number of complex reasons behind the decision to place the children, who are of eastern European Roma origin, elsewhere.
At previous court hearings a judge had not allowed the council to take the children away from their birth parents permanently on the grounds that the council had failed to cater to the children's cultural and ethnic needs. The birth parents were particularly unhappy that the children returned from an earlier foster placement unable to speak their mother tongue. At previous court hearings, a judge had not allowed the council to take the children away from their birth parents permanently on the grounds that the council had failed to cater to the children's cultural and ethnic needs. The birth parents were particularly unhappy that the children returned from an earlier foster placement unable to speak their mother tongue.
Social workers believe the birth parents should not be allowed the children back. They have wide-ranging concerns about the couple, particularly the father, who is accused of sexually abusing two of his children.Social workers believe the birth parents should not be allowed the children back. They have wide-ranging concerns about the couple, particularly the father, who is accused of sexually abusing two of his children.
The children were first taken into care four years ago, shortly after arriving in Britain, when one of the boys, then just five, was found wandering the streets at 2am.The children were first taken into care four years ago, shortly after arriving in Britain, when one of the boys, then just five, was found wandering the streets at 2am.
There has never been any suggestion that the Ukip members were anything other than exemplary foster carers. In a statement on Thursday, the couple said: "We are disappointed that we have still not received an apology from Rotherham metropolitan borough council (RMBC) for the way we have been treated, not to mention the upset and upheaval caused to the children involved.There has never been any suggestion that the Ukip members were anything other than exemplary foster carers. In a statement on Thursday, the couple said: "We are disappointed that we have still not received an apology from Rotherham metropolitan borough council (RMBC) for the way we have been treated, not to mention the upset and upheaval caused to the children involved.
"Following a meeting between the foster agency and RMBC contract team we have been informed by the agency that we are now being accused by RMBC of 'leaking' confidential information to the press." "Following a meeting between the foster agency and RMBC contract team, we have been informed by the agency that we are now being accused by RMBC of 'leaking' confidential information to the press."
The Guardian understands that while the fostering agency has not de-registered the couple as foster parents, the agency is reluctant to place children with them while the case remains in the public eye. The couple have not been given any foster children since the three children were taken away in mid-November.The Guardian understands that while the fostering agency has not de-registered the couple as foster parents, the agency is reluctant to place children with them while the case remains in the public eye. The couple have not been given any foster children since the three children were taken away in mid-November.
The agency refused to comment on the case other than to say: "All the work undertaken by [us] has to be in line with statutory guidelines and regulation.The agency refused to comment on the case other than to say: "All the work undertaken by [us] has to be in line with statutory guidelines and regulation.
"It is simply not true that the foster carers in question have been banned from fostering. We are unable to comment further on this case or with regard to foster children in placement.""It is simply not true that the foster carers in question have been banned from fostering. We are unable to comment further on this case or with regard to foster children in placement."
The foster couple claim the agency supports them and is confident they have not leaked any sensitive information to the press regarding our particular case. "However," they said, "the accusation that we understand is now being levelled by RMBC (namely that we have breached confidentiality) can be a career-ending accusation for foster parents.The foster couple claim the agency supports them and is confident they have not leaked any sensitive information to the press regarding our particular case. "However," they said, "the accusation that we understand is now being levelled by RMBC (namely that we have breached confidentiality) can be a career-ending accusation for foster parents.
"We wish to repeat and formally state that at no time have we given confidential information to the press and we have repeatedly and from the outset asked the press to respect the confidentiality of the children, their birth family, our agency and ourselves. This is entirely for the protection of these children who are innocent victims in what we see as the outrageous and ill-informed attitudes of Rotherham social services. "We wish to repeat and formally state that at no time have we given confidential information to the press, and we have repeatedly and from the outset asked the press to respect the confidentiality of the children, their birth family, our agency and ourselves. This is entirely for the protection of these children who are innocent victims in what we see as the outrageous and ill-informed attitudes of Rotherham social services.
"Whatever fears RMBC may have surrounding the children's future, wanting the best outcome for these children does not justify them, or any local council, slandering their foster carers or abruptly removing children because the foster carers are members of Ukip.""Whatever fears RMBC may have surrounding the children's future, wanting the best outcome for these children does not justify them, or any local council, slandering their foster carers or abruptly removing children because the foster carers are members of Ukip."
The Guardian last month interviewed the children's parents, east European Roma. The Ukip couple did not give the paper any information about the children's backgrounds, their nationality or the identity of their parents. The Guardian last month interviewed the children's parents, who are eastern European Roma. The Ukip couple did not give the paper any information about the children's backgrounds, their nationality or the identity of their parents.
Ukip's leader, Nigel Farage, has vowed to stand by the couple and do whatever he can to resolve the matter.Ukip's leader, Nigel Farage, has vowed to stand by the couple and do whatever he can to resolve the matter.
He said in a statement: "The fact that this saga has resulted in the loss of the couple's livelihood is utterly ridiculous and contemptible. These are real people's lives that are being thrown into disarray and I will not stand by and allow this couple to become collateral damage. It is essential that they are cleared of any wrongdoing in order that they may continue fostering."He said in a statement: "The fact that this saga has resulted in the loss of the couple's livelihood is utterly ridiculous and contemptible. These are real people's lives that are being thrown into disarray and I will not stand by and allow this couple to become collateral damage. It is essential that they are cleared of any wrongdoing in order that they may continue fostering."