Accessibility options

BNP 'amends' rules after decision

Date: 13/3/2010 11:18:15

Search: BNP membership rules

The British National Party began processing applications within hours of a court order banning recruitment of new members after its leader claimed to have amended the constitution.

In a landmark ruling on Friday, Judge Paul Collins issued an injunction against the far-right group stating its constitution was illegal and ordering it to comply with equality laws.

He said the party's membership rules meant it was "likely to commit unlawful acts".

But Mr Griffin declared on Friday night he had now amended the constitution to comply with the law and membership had therefore reopened.

The 17-page judgment, delivered at the Central London County Court, found the BNP's clause that any members must agree to preserve the integrity of an "indigenous British" society was illegal and should be withdrawn.

It ordered the removal of the pledge to oppose immigration into the UK and maintain Britons as the "overwhelming majority" racial group. As part of the injunction, the BNP will also have to abandon its "intimidatory" policy of sending officials to the homes of prospective new members.

Advertisement starts


Advertisement

Advertisement ends

Judge Collins said the sanction would apply until a new constitution was produced. He said: "The membership list will have to be closed until then. The BNP is required to make sure their membership is fully apprised of the situation."

Mr Griffin claimed he had used his authority to alter the wording of the constitution to remove the obligation on applicants to adhere to the principles of the party.

He said: "Section 4, which deals with the requirements for membership and includes the demand that members support all the principles of the party, is not protected. I have, therefore, with immediate effect changed the section 4 requirements, as I am entitled to do, to comply with the court order.

"What this means is that people can apply to join the BNP without having to endorse and support the principles of the party."

2012 © Press Association

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Advertisement starts


Advertisement

Advertisement ends

  • Harry hails Everest war veterans
    Harry hails Everest war veterans
    The charity Walking with the Wounded launched the ambitious project today to put five war-wounded men on the mountain's summit as Harry agreed to be the expedition's patron. The royal even clambered into an altitude chamber at an event staged in c
  • Ancient Egypt in Edinburgh
    Ancient Egypt in Edinburgh
    Henrietta Lidchi, keeper of world cultures at the museum, says people have allways been fascinated by mummies and visitors will be guided through rituals of death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt, with painted coffins and embalming equipment on display.
  • Robshaw: Focus is on us
    Robshaw: Focus is on us
    England captain Chris Robshaw believes the team should focus on their own game rather than worry about the opposition.
  • Tulisa goes solo
    Tulisa goes solo
    Tulisa discusses her debut solo album and rooting for Adele at the Grammy Awards as she attends a pre-Grammy party held by Belvedere vodka and RED.
arrow
Harry hails Everest war veterans
The charity Walking with the Wounded launched the ambitious project today to put five war-wounded men on the mountain's summit as Harry agreed to be the expedition's patron. The royal even clambered into an altitude chamber at an event staged in c

5 day forecastMy local weather

Cloudy
London
min: -2º
max:3º
 
 

Daily Pictures



Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Page Footer


Access keys


You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
  • (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
  • (1) Navigate to Home page.
  • (2) Navigate to My email.
  • (3) Navigate to My Account.
  • (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
  • (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
  • (6) Navigate to Members channel.
  • (7) Navigate to Services channel.
  • (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
  • (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
  • ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
  • (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
  • (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.
  • (x) Text only version of this page.