Thursday, 26th February 2009

Godfrey Bloom MEP

UKIP is calling for the sacking of a child protection official following "dishonest" claims over home education.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is backing a government investigation into home-schooling amid fears that teaching children at home can hide abuse.

"The NSPCC is trying to shift blame away from itself to the home education community," said UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom.

Interviewed in The Independent, NSPCC policy adviser Vijay Patel said: "Some people use home education to hide. Look at the Victoria Climbié case. No one asked where she was at school. We have no view about home education, but we do know that to find out about abuse someone has to know about the child."

Mr Bloom noted: "The NSPCC was explicitly condemned by the inquiry into Victoria Climbié's tragic death. Now it is trying to blame the innocent.

"At the time of the inquiry it was not home education that was singled out for blame. Victoria was never home-educated. It was the NSPCC itself – crucial details in NSPCC files were changed after Victoria's death.

"One read that Victoria's case was 'accepted for ongoing service' when she was first referred, while another version, made – according to computer records – after the girl's death, was marked 'no further action'." 

Mr Bloom said that instead of taking responsibility for its own failures the NSPCC was conniving with the government to demonise home educators.

"It is no surprise that the NSPCC is a government toady given that it ceased to be an independent charity years ago and now is a branch of government. It is heavily funded by the government and does the government's bidding. Today that job is to vilify decent parents."

The EMP added: "I am writing to Dame Mary Marsh, the Director, demanding that she explain the actions of her underlings and calling for Mr Patel to be fired for his abject dishonesty."

UKIP support for home education – click HERE

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