Shoesmith gets permission to appeal High Court ruling

In a ruling issued yesterday, Mr Justice Foskett said that while he stood by his decision in April to reject Shoesmith’s claim for a judicial review, she had not lost the case and should be given permission to appeal.

Foskett also slashed the costs claims of £350,000 made by former Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, Haringey and Ofsted, to £15,000.

Shoesmith brought a High Court challenge against the three parties over her sacking as director of children’s services in December 2008. In April, Foskett ruled that she was lawfully sacked following an Ofsted report commissioned by Balls, which highlighted leadership failings in the children’s protection department at Haringey.

Balls subsequently held a press conference where he called on Haringey Council to sack Shoesmith without compensation.

In the new ruling, Foskett said: "There is, in my view, a wider public interest than merely the interest arising from the circumstances of this case for a considered judgment of the Court of Appeal."

Shoesmith's lawyers, Beachcroft LLP, said they generally welcomed the judge's ruling, adding: "We are considering with our client whether to ask the Court of Appeal to grant permission to appeal the judge's decisions in respect of Ofsted."

The ruling relates only to an appeal against Balls and Haringey. Foskett said Shoesmith would require the permission of the Court of Appeal to continue her case against Ofsted.