Dinner lady sacked over pork

A Cambridgeshire dinner lady sacked for accidentally serving pork to a Muslim pupil is being backed by UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

Farage denied jumping on the political bandwagon by supporting Alison Waldock.

Ms Waldock said she forgot the dietary needs of the seven-year-old pupil when she asked if she wanted roast gammon, and the youngster said yes.

Mr Farage appeared on ITV's Daybreak this morning, saying the sacking was outrageous.

He said: "The reason that Alison's been sacked is that we're so terrified in this country of causing offence to anybody, particularly the Muslim religion.

Asked if he was jumping on a political bandwagon, he said: "No, I think it's important, because I think actually what's been happening with this whole politically correct agenda is lots of decent ordinary people are losing their jobs and paying the price for us being terrified of causing offence."

He added that there was nothing 'malicious or deliberate' about Ms Waldock's decision.

Inayat Bunglawala, founder of campaign group Muslims4UK, told the same programme that the sacking, for a one-off mistake, was, on the face of it, an overreaction.

He said: "If mistakes are made, then we'd expect employers to resolve this in a sensible manner."

"I am a bit concerned a leader of a political party would seek to make capital out of this, because it is a minor issue, it does need resolving.

"I'm concerned by Nigel saying people are becoming overly sensitive to Muslim communities, I think it makes it a far more divisive issue than it needs to be."

A dinner lady from Cambridge has spoken out after being dismissed for accidentally serving pork to a Muslim pupil.

Alison Waldock had worked at Queen Edith Primary School for 11 years. She says she's been unfairly dismissed.

The Muslim Council of Cambridgeshire says it seems an overreaction and more discussions need to be had about religious awareness.

Lunchtime UK, the catering company which employed Ms Waldock, said: "A full investigation was carried out prior to suspending Alison Waldock on full pay. A standard disciplinary procedure ensued which resulted in her being dismissed for gross misconduct.

"She was represented by the GMB Union throughout and is now entitled to appeal through the tribunal system."