[Shaun]

The British National Party says it has expelled its ex-leader Nick Griffin.

In a statement, the BNP accused him of trying to "destabilise" the party and "harassing" party members.

In a tweet, Mr Griffin took issue with the decision, accusing the party leadership of "plastic gangster games".

Mr Griffin stepped down as party leader in July after 15 years at the top. The party saw its vote collapse in May's elections, in which Mr Griffin lost his seat in the European Parliament.

The BNP said the decision to expel Mr Griffin had been taken by its conduct committee following an investigation after he stepped down as leader.

It accused him of seeking to "destabilise" the party and "embroil it in factionalism".

Specifically, it claimed Mr Griffin prepared and leaked "damaging and defamatory" allegations about senior members of the party and its finances.

It also accused him of "harassing members of BNP staff and in at least one case making physical threats" as well as publishing e-mails giving a false account of his own financial affairs after he was declared bankrupt in January.

It also suggested that he had ignored warnings from Adam Walker, the party's chairman, that he was bringing the BNP into disrepute.

"Although we all appreciate that Nick has achieved a lot for our party in the past, we must also remember that the party is bigger than any individual," Clive Jefferson, a member of the conduct committee, said in a statement.

"Nick did not adjust well to being given the honorary title of president and it soon became obvious that he was unable to work as an equal member of the team and alarmingly his behaviour became more erratic and disruptive."

In response, Mr Griffin said he had been "expelled without a trial".

He accused the party of "operating outside the constitution", adding that he would "ignore their plastic gangster games".

Mr Griffin has been the public face of the BNP for more than a decade, during which time the party increased its popular support despite being dogged by allegations of racism, which it has always rejected.

But the BNP's fortunes have slumped in recent years amid internal divisions and questions over the party's future direction.

While it won more than 6% of the vote in the 2009 European elections, when Mr Griffin and one other colleague were elected, it garnered just other 1% of the vote in May.

The party has also lost the majority of its council representatives.

Mr Griffin told political correspondent Ross Hawkins that he would not speak to the BBC about the dispute but insisted he would "sort it out" with party members.

The party's divisions, he added, were linked to its slump in electoral support since 2009 but observers also claimed that there had been arguments over the party's financial affairs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29453341

Youtube video

[Kizzy]

Ah well they're not really needed now are they the BNP? Not now we have UKIP

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Ah well they're not really needed now are they the BNP? Not now we have UKIP

Great minds Kizzy, I was reading that thinking "Ahh, their demise isn't poor old Nick's fault, they've all jumped ship for UKIP".

The BNP were always just too in-your-face... UKIP are like a stealth version of the BNP, slightly more socially acceptable.

[Kizzy]

Yep they are a bastardization of Thatcherites and the BNP

[joeysteele]

I am pleased to see the demise of the BNP, however as others have said, in perhaps more attractive clothing a lot of the time,they are still going to be around with UKIP.

UKIP for me sounds more reasonable but they give you so little detail that you cannot help thinking there is a sinister hidden agenda.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Great minds Kizzy, I was reading that thinking "Ahh, their demise isn't poor old Nick's fault, they've all jumped ship for UKIP".

The BNP were always just too in-your-face... UKIP are like a stealth version of the BNP, slightly more socially acceptable.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Yes and labour are closet communists






A few years ago it was the tories who were covert bnp

plus ca change

[Livia]

I'm not a supporter of UKIP, NOT AT ALL. But to say they're the new BNP because they dare to bring up the subject of immigration is what stops people having a rational discussion about border controls. Sadly, no one's allowed to start a conversation about immigration or they're accused of being racist. It's getting old... and as for the subject of this thread, how much of a prick do you have to be for the BNP to expel you?

[Mitchell]

I'm a celebrity are already on the phone

[Kizzy]

From my point of view it has nothing to do with discussions concerning immigration and everything to do with the bigotry of their members.

Never mind nick there's always roadkill?

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

From my point of view it has nothing to do with discussions concerning immigration and everything to do with the bigotry of their members.

Never mind nick there's always roadkill?

Have to agree