The Mott family have today made national headline news after being rejected as foster parents for saying the words “white foreigner”, which was highlighted on my blog last week. It is a page lead story in The Daily Express today, with two photos of the family.
Many thanks to Sam at ConservativeHome for giving it a plug. As a result, Peterborough’s smart MP Stewart Jackson phoned me yesterday and said he wanted to take up the case.
And later, the Peterborough Evening Telegraph also called and asked for the Mott’s phone number, the story will be highlighted by them later today too.
David Mott also called and is still hopeful that their application would be reviewed favourably. It would be a terrible waste to turn down a lovely family for the sake of pride. Let’s hope Peterborough City Council can eat humble tie and admit they have made a mistake. It’s surely worth it for the sake of bringing some happiness into the lives of those sad, foresaken children in desperate need of a loving, warm and caring home, like the Mott household.
Update: Here is the Peterborough ET link.
Well done Ellee for highlighting this unfair situation. Although the Motts are not my constituents, I have written to the Director of Children’s Services at Peterborough City Council, Mohammed Mehmet, asking for an explanation of their treatment and I hope that there is a positive outcome and that they are successful in fostering a local child in Peterborough.
Stewart, Many thanks to you too for responding so swiftly, I too hope there will be a positive outcome.
This is great news and shows the power of blogging!!! Well done to Ellee for writing such a good article, and well done to Stewart Jackson MP for reacting swiftly.
I read in the Express today that Peterborough are now offering to review the situation. Let us hope David and Sarah get the right result.
Unfortunately, I don’t think coucils will ever admit they have made a mistake. You did a great job in highlighting the issue, Ellie.
This is David Mott speaking,I would like to thank Stewart jackson MP for is backing and comments to the papers and also the radio,and special thanks to Ellee again without her help and comments nothing would have happened and also for introducing me to the word Blogger and exactly what it is,Tonight my family and i were on ITV,and on the front of the evening telegraph,and in the daily express today and also daily mail tommorow,Peterborough have said in there comments on the television and radio that there are other reasons for there refusal on us to foster,if they can tell us there reasons we and others may understand,but i feel there are none just the comment white foreigner.
how fantastic is this? Ellee well done really!
Incredible news, Ellee. You have given the Mott’s a voice. The successes you are having are indicative of common sense prevailing and are introducing new people to non-traditional means of righting wrongs.
David, Well done to you and your family, I saw you on Anglia TV news last night. I wonder why Peteborough City Council did not face the cameras too, but hid behind a statement which failed to substantiate any other reasons for turning down your application. If they have nothing to fear, they should be able to face questions about it openly.
Someone has just posted a comment on the original post who suffered a similar experience to you at Peterborough and won compensation after complaining to The Ombudsman. They also had a happy ending, and eventually became foster parents. This is the link:
https://elleeseymour.com/2006/11/09/family-loses-chance-to-foster-kids-for-saying-white-foreigner/#comment-2902
Good luck with your application before Cambridgeshire. It takes a lot of kindness, patience and compassion to want to be a foster parent, I know you have the qualities required and hope it all works out well.