- ITV Report
Council condemned after UKIP foster couple lose children
An under fire council that removed three children from the care of foster parents who are members of UKIP launched an investigation into its decision after a tidal wave of criticism.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council sparked outrage when it removed the children because the couple's political affiliation was seen as being at odds with the youngsters' European backgrounds.
ITV News' Damon Green reports:
By the council's own admission the youngsters were happy and there was no question mark over the foster parents' provision of care.
Council leader Roger Stone announced the Labour-run authority would investigate what had happened after mounting condemnation from political leaders including Education Secretary Michael Gove and Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Mr Gove said social workers had made "the wrong decision in the wrong way for the wrong reasons" and that he would be personally investigating and exploring steps to "deal with" the situation.
The politician, who heads the Government department responsible for children's services and who was himself adopted as a child, accused Rotherham of sending out a "dreadful signal".
The children, a baby girl, a boy and an older girl, were removed by social workers after the council reportedly received an anonymous tip-off about the foster parents' membership of the right-wing party which wants withdrawal from the European Union and immigration curbs.
Social workers said they were concerned about the children's "cultural and ethnic needs".
UKIP leader Nigel Farage called for resignations over what he said was an "appalling" decision.
Accusing the council of bigotry, he said he felt: