UKIP rejects BNP alliance
Monday, 3 November 2008 5:16 PM
The United Kingdom Independence party (Ukip) has rejected an offer from the British National party (BNP) to form an alliance.
Ukip made an announcement saying the BNP had been trying to infiltrate the party over the last few months and party organisers were expected many members to leave the party over the next few weeks.
The offer was raised by UKIP figure and former tennis star Buster Mottram, who put the deal to the party at a meeting earlier today.
The deal would involve the BNP concentrating on northern seats during the forthcoming European elections while Ukip would concentrate on the south.
Mr Mottram was instantly expelled from the party. Ukip's embarrassment was moderated by the fact he was not a party member, although he did sit on its national executive committee.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever.
"I'm simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party."
Ukip is considered to be firmly on the right of British politics, but of a fundamentally different - and more responsible - character than the BNP.
The European elections will take place in June 2009.
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