A Department for Education spokesman said:
The Government thinks that it was right in principle for Sharon Shoesmith to be removed from her post as Director of Children’s Services.
The High Court thought that the decision was taken in a fair way. The Court of Appeal said [on Friday 27 May] that they thought it was not sufficiently fair, and was therefore unlawful.
There are questions of constitutional importance involved in this case, beyond the specific question about whether Ed Balls should have had a further meeting with Sharon Shoesmith before removing her.
Our initial application to appeal has been turned down by the Court of Appeal. We have now filed an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
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