Outrage after school governor FORCED to resign because he is a member of Ukip

Mike Ward has been a governor at Eskdale School in Whitby, North Yorkshire, for eight years and chairman for the last five.

But head teacher Sue Whelan intimated to him that his Ukip membership rendered him 'persona non grata' and consequently demanded his resignation.

Mr Ward, a councillor in Scarborough, had only joined Ukip two days before Ms Whelan ruled that Ukip policy on immigration was "incompatible with the aims and ethos of the school".

Today education chiefs at North Yorkshire County Council launched an investigation after receiving an official complaint lodged by a furious Ukip county councillor Sam Cross.

In a statement Coun Ward said he was invited to a meeting with the headteacher after his switch to Ukip was reported in a local paper.

"She then asked me to resign saying Ukip's policies were against the ethos of the school," he revealed.

"I was astonished as politics had never played a part in my time as a Governor but after some soul searching over the weekend and not wishing to cause the school any further issues I tendered my resignation which she accepted.

"I believe passionately in the values Eskdale promotes and in what all those associated with it want to achieve."

Today the party's deputy leader Paul Nuttall branded the decision "an outrage".

He added: "Mike has been a dedicated governor for years and it is totally unacceptable that membership of UKIP should be considered to be incompatible with being a governor.

"This is discrimination against a conscientious man who has worked tirelessly for the school and it is a disgrace that the head teacher has taken it upon herself to oust him.

"He purely has the interests of the school and local youngsters at heart.

"There must be a full independent inquiry into this debacle and Mike should be re-instated.

"He is a former teacher and university lecturer and I'm sure his fellow governors had no problems with his completely unrelated political membership.

"Everyone is entitled to their own political views and I'm sure the other governors have theirs and possibly even belong to a political party but like Mike just concentrate on seeking the best for Eskdale School.

Today Ms Whelan refused to comment and referred calls about the matter to North Yorkshire County Council.

A spokesman said: "North Yorkshire County Council has received a complaint from a member of the public about the resignation of the chair of governors at Eskdale School in Whitby.

"This is a matter for consideration not by the County Council but by the school's governing body.

"We understand that the governing body is taking this complaint seriously and will respond to the complainant."