Catholic Online Forum

A British couple who acted as foster parents for three children have had them removed from their care because of their political views.

A local authority in northern England said it took the decision after discovering the foster parents supported the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP).

UKIP's leader Nigel Farage condemned the council's move.

"We are a non-racist, non-sectarian political party... They (the couple) were giving those children love and stability and all the things they need," he said.

"They have been discriminated against.... on the basis that they support a party that says we shouldn't be part of the European Union and we should control our borders and that is the most appalling prejudice."

Although UKIP's original raison d'être was withdrawal from the European Union it was felt that the public perception of the party as a single-issue party – despite issuing a full manifesto – was damaging electoral progress. Farage, on becoming leader, started a wide-ranging policy review, his stated aim being "the development of the party into broadly standing for traditional conservative and libertarian values".[43] Malcolm Pearson, on becoming leader, built upon Farage's policy review, his fundamental propositions being the introduction of Swiss style referendums and direct democracy at local and national levels,[44] and opposition to Islamic fundamentalism.

local authority in northern England said it took the decision after discovering the foster parents supported the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP).