In the UK, foster parents who belong to right wing UKIP lose custody of ethnic minority children ... [View all]

[pampango]

British Foster Parents Lose Children Because of Their Politics

A political firestorm has kicked off in the U.K. after a middle-aged couple had three foster children from minority backgrounds taken out of their care last week because local social workers had learned of the couple’s political affiliation.

The couple, who have not been named in order to protect the children’s identities, live in Rotherham, a town in South Yorkshire, England, and had been caring for the three siblings since September. An anonymous tip informed local council services that the couple were members of the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP), a political group that campaigns for Britain’s succession from the European Union and restricting immigration. The couple told the Telegraph that when they questioned the children’s social worker and an official from their fostering agency about why the children were being removed, they were told that UKIP has “racist policies.”

The head of children’s services for Rotherham, Joyce Thacker, appeared on the BBC on Nov. 24 to defend the council’s decision. While she admitted that it was not council policy to remove children from homes based on the political views of the caregivers, she added “we have to take each case on its merits.” She noted that the children are the offspring of European immigrants and ethnic minorities and social workers had been particularly concerned that the children’s “cultural and ethnic needs” would not be looked after. Thacker also went on to add that the three children – a baby girl and an older boy and girl – were only temporarily placed with the couple in September. After being tipped off about the couple’s UKIP membership, social workers decided that an early removal would be best – despite the fact that there “was no question over the quality of care.”

UKIP describes itself as a libertarian party and has been, at times, controversial in the U.K. Among other things, the party advocates that Britain should withdraw from Europe and that there should be severe curbs on immigration. More relevant, however, are the statements in the party’s political manifesto that proclaim: “Multiculturalism has split our society.”

http://world.time.com/2012/11/27/british-foster-parents-lose-children-because-of-their-politics/

The story indicates that this couple has been foster parents for several years. The idea that white foster (or adoptive) parents might be problematic for minority children has been around for a long time. This case is even more complicated because the foster parents belong to a libertarian party that doesn't believe in immigration or multiculturalism which would seem to be at odds with the goal of raising minority immigrant children to become a part of British society.