BNP: Court case could 'bleed party dry'
The case could cripple the party financially, the spokesman claimed
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The BNP are off to court to defend their white-only membership. They should be ashamed. |  |
Thursday, 15, Oct 2009 12:00
By Emmeline Saunders
The BNP have called the legal proceedings pursued against it by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission "vexatious and malicious".
A spokesman for the party, which this morning agreed to change its constitution and membership criteria to allow 'non-whites' to join, said the commission was trying to "bleed the party dry".
The party had a genuine legal exemption, and the action shows ethnic whites do not enjoy the same rights as minorities in Britain, he said.
"It was a vexatious and malicious attempt to shut down a legitimate political party," he told politics.co.uk.
The BNP faces paying "a significant figure" in legal costs, after agreeing to change its membership policy.
In an order issued at the Central London County Court today, it can no longer discriminate against people seeking membership on any "protected characteristic", for example, on the grounds of race, ethnic or religious status, as defined in clause four of the equality bill.
The party must also suspend all new membership applications until the changes have been made to its constitution at a general meeting next month.
Leader Nick Griffin will be forced to lodge written undertakings before 16:00 BST on Monday 24th October stating that the party will amend its constitution.
The case has been adjourned until January 16th 2010.