MPs call for BNP councillors to resign

Tuesday, 20 July 2004 12:00 AM

Over 40 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for four Bradford British National Party (BNP) councillors to step down.

The MPs argue that these "victories were obtained by deception of the electorate; and calls on the councillors to resign and fight by-elections under their true colours."

The EDM has been laid down following the BBC's expose of the BNP in which one of its reporters spent six months under cover with the BNP, and filmed a number of meetings and speeches in which some party members spoke of their involvement with racially motivated crime.

The MPs also call for the police to investigate and prosecute any person recorded on the programme committing a crime.

Among the signatures are former Cabinet ministers Peter Mandelson and Frank Dobson, as well as backbenchers from the other main parties.

Other oral questions on potential action against the BNP have also been tabled.

This morning, West Yorkshire Police announced that they have arrested five members of the BNP following the comments and actions recorded in the programme.

One man is being questioned about racially aggravated public order offences, two men on conspiracy to commit criminal damage, a fourth on racially aggravated harassment and the final man is being held on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

Following the documentary Barclays Bank is also reported to be in the process of closing accounts held by the BNP with it. This has not been officially confirmed by Barclays, but the BNP states on their website that they will be fighting the attempt.

If the BNP did lose its bank facilities, and no other UK bank was prepared to offer them facilities, they could be barred from standing in UK elections under Electoral Commission rules which require political parties to have transparent accounts, including a registered UK bank account.

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