BNP crisis as Nick Griffin faces jail over whites-only policy

[prometheus unbound]

BNP crisis as Nick Griffin faces jail over whites-only policy


The British National party is facing a crisis in the run-up to the general election after it emerged that Nick Griffin, its leader, could be jailed over its illegal “whites only” membership policy.

Whitehall officials believe Griffin will be unable to comply in time with a court order forcing him to change the BNP’s constitution to admit Asians, blacks and members of other ethnic minorities.

They say the BNP’s membership is not due to vote on the constitutional change until after the court deadline expires towards the end of this month. Trevor Phillips, head of the government’s equalities watchdog, which won the legal ruling three months ago, has instructed his lawyers to be ready to ask the court to impose crippling sanctions, including a heavy fine or possible jail term against Griffin and Simon Darby, the BNP’s deputy leader.

If successful, the move could paralyse the right-wing party at a time when many at Westminster believe it is on the verge of winning its first seat in parliament with the support of disillusioned former Labour and Tory voters.



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Officials question whether the head of a political party who has been imprisoned, fined or has had his assets sequestrated could continue to be its leader.

“The BNP is very much Nick Griffin’s party,” said one official. “Were he forced to stand down three months before an election, then what are the prospects for the party? He could be replaced by someone who was much more hardcore. They would potentially be in disarray.”

The legal action began last year when the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued county court proceedings against Griffin, Darby and Tanya Lumby, another senior BNP official.

The watchdog argued that the BNP’s constitution was unlawful because it restricted membership to particular ethnic groups and those whose skin colour is white.

Last October Judge Paul Collins agreed and awarded costs against the party. Griffin was forced to order a freeze on membership applications. The court gave him until January 28 to persuade the party to change its constitution and allow non-whites to join.

However, Griffin is unlikely to be able to deliver the change in time.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6982345.ece

[Sharon]

You have to hand it to Griffin. He's playing this game like a pro.

Were he to be imprisoned, or any other such thing that would bring mass publicity, you wouldn't be looking at one BNP MP elected, you could be looking at 10.

But, no one knows if Griffin will capitulate on behalf of the membership when he attends court, so, could be a jumping of the gun all round.

[Leyther]

Yet another opportunity handed to the BNP leader, in the Nick of time.

He could win a Parliamentary seat from prison; will he make the most of it?

[prometheus unbound]

He won't go to jail .

I think it's just another nudge to the BNP members to scrap race as an issue within the BNP, and to allow non-whites into the BNP.

As this is a civil court, can they send people to jail ? I thought only the Criminal courts could do that.

[maximilian]

A question, which may clarify a few things for me, is the EGM scheduled after the court appearance or before?


max

[Sharon]

A question, which may clarify a few things for me, is the EGM scheduled after the court appearance or before?


maxAfter............

[maximilian]

Yes, that is what I thought.

Why?


max

[maximilian]

I'll rephrase the question.

Why would you promise a judge that you would come back with an answer from the members regarding accepting non-white members, then schedule the EGM for the day after the court appearance?

I just want to know if it was because of party policy or some such other factor that determined the earliest possible EGM, that is all.


max

[Sharon]

I'll rephrase the question.

Why would you promise a judge that you would come back with an answer from the members regarding accepting non-white members, then schedule the EGM for the day after the court appearance?

I just want to know if it was because of party policy or some such other factor that determined the earliest possible EGM, that is all.


maxYou do it to achieve maximum publicity.

[maximilian]

You do it to achieve maximum publicity.

Oh there will be plenty of publicity, make no mistake about that.

But my train of thought is this:

Griffin can't enter that courtroom and say yes M'Lord the members say non-whites are agreeable to all, now can he, as that would be a lie.

So what does he do?

I'm of a mind that with enough threatening and doom and gloom articles in the press he will agree off his own bat to accept them. Then armed with all these repressive and threatening articles he will go before the sheeplike and sycophantic members at the EGM and say......"what else could I do, go to gaol?" And true to form they will all bow down at his feet and say, of course not you did the right thing.

I hope I'm wrong, I hope he tells them to shove it where the sun don't shine and if they want to talk to him again to consult his lawyer, and then he goes out and organisers some big marches in protest which all Nationalists will join, yes I'll be there, but somehow I feel I might be guilty of wishful thinking unfortunately.


max

[prometheus unbound]

Oh there will be plenty of publicity, make no mistake about that.

But my train of thought is this:

Griffin can't enter that courtroom and say yes M'Lord the members say non-whites are agreeable to all, now can he, as that would be a lie.

So what does he do?

I'm of a mind that with enough threatening and doom and gloom articles in the press he will agree off his own bat to accept them. Then armed with all these repressive and threatening articles he will go before the sheeplike and sycophantic members at the EGM and say......"what else could I do, go to gaol?" And true to form they will all bow down at his feet and say, of course not you did the right thing.

I hope I'm wrong, I hope he tells them to shove it where the sun don't shine and if they want to talk to him again to consult his lawyer, and then he goes out and organisers some big marches in protest which all Nationalists will join, yes I'll be there, but somehow I feel I might be guilty of wishful thinking unfortunately.


max

I think your post hits the Bullseye and I agree 100%.

This is just the establishments way of helping Griffin destroy the BNP by emasculating it's use and effectiveness.

Once it allows non-whites 'en masse' it ceases to be of any use whatsoever.

[Tactics]

If the establishment wanted rid of Griffin, the leaked accounts would be all over the front pages, they aren't, Griffin is obviously being protected by them. I've been saying this for years.