BNP given last chance to end 'whites only' rule on membership

Published on Thursday 28 January 2010 21:34

THE British National Party was warned yesterday that it had one last chance to scrap its whites-only membership policy, or face a possible court injunction.

BNP leader Nick Griffin was told at Central London County Court that a new party constitution complying with race relations laws must be agreed at an extraordinary general meeting due to be held in two weeks' time.

It meant that BNP officials were forced to rush out letters to members in the last post in order to allow for the 14 days needed to alert them to the proposed changes.

Even then, there remained queries over whether the amended version would go far enough to appease lawyers from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Further changes are likely to be needed at the meeting – the location of which has not been disclosed – itself.

The commission had opposed adjournment at the session and called on the judge to make a ruling over the matter.

But His Honour Judge Paul Collins said that doing so would likely mean that a further court ruling would be needed once the new constitution was in place.

He echoed concerns that some passages in the proposed amended version were vague.

The commission maintained that it was still discriminatory, although in a less direct manner.

They said that by making potential members agree that they supported the "unity and integrity of the indigenous British" would in effect bar some people from joining.

Deciding for an adjournment, Judge Collins said: "I'm going to give the BNP an opportunity to have its EGM and take into account what has been said today and get it right.

"I do not think there will be another opportunity to get it right. This is it."

He also ordered the BNP to pay the 12,500 in court costs relating to yesterday's adjourned session.