BNP list shut over race rules bias (From Crewe Guardian)

BNP list shut over race rules bias

3:12pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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The British National Party has been barred from taking new members after a judge ruled its constitution could discriminate against non-white people.

Judge Paul Collins issued an injunction ordering the far right group to comply with race equality laws. He said: "The membership list will have to be closed until then."

But later Mr Griffin said the BNP's membership had reopened despite the injunction.

The party leader claimed he had amended the constitution to comply with the law. He said he had used his authority to alter the wording to remove the obligation on applicants to adhere to the principles of the party.

Last month the BNP scrapped its whites-only policy in an attempt to avoid legal sanctions brought by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

But at Central London County Court, Judge Collins ruled: "I hold that the BNP are likely to commit unlawful acts of discrimination within section 1b Race Relations Act 1976 in the terms on which they are prepared to admit persons to membership under the 12th addition of their constitution."

The judgment found that, while it is not unlawful to hold discriminatory views, it is unlawful for such principles to be used for controlled entry to a political party, the EHRC said. Susie Uppal, director of legal enforcement at the commission, said after the judgment: "The commission is glad that today's judgment confirms our view that both the BNP's 11th constitution and the amended 12th constitution are unlawful."

Speaking after the judgment, Mr Griffin said: "It's opened a very dangerous door and it is a huge change to the unwritten constitution of Britain.

"They are claiming that they have been granted the right to interfere in what a party believes but the only people who have the right to judge are the electorate."

He said the ruling was "more than symbolic", adding: "It has given an organ of the state the power to interfere in the aims and objectives of any political party."