Rotherham Borough Council defends UKIP fostering decision

A council in South Yorkshire has been explaining its decision to remove three children from their foster parents because they were members of the UK Independence Party.

Rotherham Borough Council said it had taken the action because the siblings were from European migrant backgrounds, and it had concerns about the party's stance on immigration.

The leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, described the council's decision as appalling.

However the strategic director of Children and Young People's Services at Rotherham Council, Joyce Thacker, said the local authority had to look after the children's cultural and ethnic needs.