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Queen hosts BNP chiefs at the Palace
Katharine Barney and Sri Carmichael20 May 2009
Two leading members of the far-Right British National Party are to attend the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Richard Barnbrook, a member of the London Assembly, received the invitation in his capacity at City Hall and has decided to take the chairman of the BNP, Nick Griffin, as his guest.
The move will provoke anger at City Hall among those who believe the party should not be part of the democratic system.
Today Mr Barnbrook confirmed he would attend the function on 21 July and said the addition of Mr Griffin as his guest had been a last-minute development.
He said: “If they don't like it then tough. I was duly elected and we live in a democracy.
“I was going to invite a very close friend but at the last minute she couldn't come so the party chairman was the first person I thought of off the cuff.
“If I continue to rattle the cages at City Hall and put noses out of joint while they can't answer my questions then they should look at their own politics.”
Mr Barnbrook was not directly invited by the Queen but was entitled to one of the tickets given to City Hall as a new Assembly member.
A Palace spokesman said: “A number of organisations and bodies receive an allocation of tickets for the garden parties and we trust them to make a decision about which guests they would like to invite. It's a system that has been in place for years. People are vetted for security reasons and we can intervene on obvious security grounds.
“We can't confirm who's attending because of data protection reasons.” Darren Johnson, chairman of the London Assembly and Green party member, said: “It's their garden party and they can invite who they want. He is a member of the Assembly after all and it is essentially a political problem.
“The long-term solution is to make sure neither he or anyone from his party ever gets in again. Mind you, if his behaviour is anything like it is at City Hall, the Queen will be very bored.”
The event will come after the June local and Euro elections, which could see the BNP gaining more local council seats and their first MEPs. Disillusionment with mainstream politicians over the MPs' expenses scandal and fears over jobs and immigration could lead to a surge in support for the party, according to political experts.
Two days ago Mr Barnbrook attended the Wembley launch of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals
Reader views (29)
"The move will provoke anger at City Hall among those who believe the party should not be part of the democratic system" them that think they can decide who is part or not of the democratic process are in fact fascists,the big problem is that they like to accuse their opposition of being the fascists,in fact democracy is only tolerated as long as the fascists control it.
- Hugh E Torrance, London England, 26/05/2009 18:48
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The US is becoming more diverse as well but most hispanics have some european origins and they practice catholicism or protestantism so our growing diversity is not necessarily as problematic as that of Britain. Europe is being swamped by people from Central Asia who are from a totally alien culture that despises the west.
- John Stevenson, New York, USA, 24/05/2009 03:02
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I think given the considerable move forward in the USA in Janaury and the inaurguration of Barack Obama this news is very unfortunate, It seems that our Political Freinds in the USA are moving positivley forward whilst we here in the UK are moving rapidly backward, "not a race hate party" i think that to say this of the BNP is laughable at the very least. I very much doubt that if hell freezes over and this party is elected into office they will not be affording certain sections of society any kind of democratic rights, and those with an ounce of sense know this, so why afford them a platform to force there covertly racist views on others.
- Marie,, West Midlands, 22/05/2009 09:52
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So, what the complainers are saying is that the Queen should become politically active (in denying these duly elected officials of her subjects recognition)? I somehow think the same people complaining would do the same complaint thing about the Queen 'interfering' in politics if she picked and chose who was acceptable and who not.
You don't have to like the politics of others to accept that they are official, democratically elected representatives of voting citizens in the British democratic system - alongside the extremes of BNP beliefs, I also don't like cynical socialist representatives and their policies, LibDem wishy-washiness, and the silly season 'political parties'. I don't even like Tories who forget what they are there for. But word to the wise time, folks - banning political opponents, even the ones with perceived objectionable undertones, will result eventually in a one-party state. That's called a dictatorship, if not by an individual, then by a totalitarian ideal.
People need to look at the end product of their wishes, not just the vested rhetoric of pet-hate opponents.
- Rogan, Irving, 21/05/2009 01:37
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My My My --- how the England I grew up in is changing! Yes, UK is a Democracy and all points of view should be heard! Is "Speakers Corner" in London still alive and well??? Or has that been closed down? We used to love to go there when I was growing up in London. Seems like it is easy to get banished for a viewpoint. I notice a conservative radio talk show host here in CA has been prohibited from entering UK.... amazing!
- Patty, Los Angeles, CA, 21/05/2009 01:00
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I trust the odious friends of various european neo nazis, and holocaust deniers will having a go at the Greek immigrant who lives on benefits and his wife her Maj for consistancy sake
- Londoner, London, 21/05/2009 00:04
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Why is it that so many people think that it is OK to deny certain people the same courtesies as others who are elected by the same process? Surely the BNP's elected representatives have the same rights and privileges as others? You might not like what they believe, but that is the nature of a democracy. We have a Labour Government - I wish we did not - but it does not mean that I should ignore them just because I disagree with them. In Austria, it is a criminal offence to be a holocaust denier. In England, it is nearly an offence to disapprove of homosexuals. There are certain freedoms (of speech and thought and conscience and association) that we should not try to limit, just because we disagree. The way we deal with disagreement is through reasoned argument, not through denying people the right to think as they want. We do not want the state getting into 're-education' programmes - let's face it, the state cannot even deliver sensible primary education, let alone adult re-education!
- Shaun Hexter, Walthamstow UK, 20/05/2009 23:17
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It amuses me when I read BNP sympathisers quacking about democracy.
The BNP would be very picky about who it affords democratic rights to.
I hope this odious pair are treated with the disdain they deserve at the party.
- Leanne, London, UK, 20/05/2009 23:17
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Labour and the left hate the Queen and want her gone. They will be represented there, so how hypocritical are these people?
- Sylvia Howard, Epping Essex, 20/05/2009 23:03
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At last, the Royal Family showing their colours. The lastone to do this was the Duke of Windsor.
- Pacifus, Newcastle Australia, 20/05/2009 22:57
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i would be more concerned if the queen was inviting Gerry Adams to tea. Unfortuneately Sinn fein are claiming lots of taxpayers money even though they refuse to take their seats.
- Simon, london, 20/05/2009 22:38
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I had to laugh at Claire's comment.
Why did you vote 'this idiot' in? Why did 'you' vote for the thieving LibLabCon politicians who have been abusing the system and driving this country down the gutter? Now that is a REAl question, and more of a reason for this country to be the laughing stock of the world.
At least with the BNP they promise to donate 10% of the salary of any MEP elected to their region for community use. That is 10% more than any other party I know.
I think an un-politically correct party with the genuine interests of Britain at heart would be a breath of fresh air to Her Majesty.
- Oliver, Epsom, UK, 20/05/2009 18:05
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Its called democracy and these people and this party concerned have a lot support from the general public. The people who support their policies do not wear Doc Martins (Mike) nor are they skin heads (As the media would have you believe), their are every day people that feel they are no longer represented by the main three parties who lean left and champion political correctness, a form of thinking that favours minority thinking and ignores majority views. The current state of immigration is a dire concern that has fuelled the growth of the BNP and if the government addressed this key issue it might hamper support, but while London and other cities are overwhelmingly being transformed by massive numbers of immigrants, the BNP will continue to grow. The abuse of power by the Labour party has also spurned their rapid growth.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK, 20/05/2009 18:04
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Since the labour party have shown themselves to be nothing but a bunch of greedy little crooks, it may well be refreshing to have more prominence given to the BNP party.
- Royston Amphlett, Bournemouth England, 20/05/2009 17:26
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Perhaps HRH and Mr Griffin who could well be MEP by that date could have a chat over some Victoria sponge about the traitors who have handed over 70% of our sovereignty to Brussels, and how they might wrestle back our independence?!
- Jon, UK, 20/05/2009 17:16
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I have to say I find it all rather embarrassing, why on earth did we vote this idiot into power?
I can see the rest of the world pointing their fingers and sniggering at us...
- Claire, London, 20/05/2009 17:11
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The Queen is quite right to invite the BNP - they have the support of many voters and that support is growing rapidly. They have a right to be treated with respect; more so, in fact, than the corrupt centre parties that have brought this country to near ruin. People are tired of the liberal establishment in politics and the media denying the BNP a proper hearing and characterising them as a threat. It is the failed centre parties that are the real threat.
- Richard, Welling, 20/05/2009 17:11
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This "normalisation" of the Far Right is alarming, but what can be done? As Darren Johnson says, the only way to stop it is to get out and vote against them. Why do the newspapers keep claiming that the BNP are getting a boost from the current scandal, when polling shows that actually UKIP and the Greens are doing much better than them?
- Tom Walsh, London, England, 20/05/2009 17:01
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Agree with Maya - it is someone for Prince Philip to talk to!
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 20/05/2009 16:58
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It's not a specific invitation to the BNP. It's an invitation to elected representatives - and as the BNP have a London Assembly member that includes Mr Barnbrook. Sometimes in a democracy you get a result that many people find difficult, but that's the nature of the beast. A storm in a teacup.
- S Stander, London, 20/05/2009 16:56
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I have no time whatsoever for the BNP but didn't our forefathers fight in 2 world wars so that we could remain free and vote into office whoever they liked?
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 20/05/2009 16:55
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Looking at the pic, I think the Queen's horse got pipped at the post.
- Doug Watt, london e14, 20/05/2009 16:51
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I am not a BNP supporter, but I am a believer in the democratic process and I find it hypocritical and disgraceful when elected members of other parties deny the right of the BNP, or any other party, to be part of that process. People are free to vote for whoever they choose -- and they have a right for that vote to be respected.
- Philip, London, England, 20/05/2009 16:37
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I hardly think anyone involved in politics in Britain, in any capacity, is in a position to point the finger. Let him go and let him take the main honcho. So what harm can it do? Nick Griffin and the Duke will rub along nicely - afterall, they do share the same value system, and views on foreigners. It will be good company for him !
- Maya, London, 20/05/2009 16:35
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"...if his behaviour is anything like it is at City Hall, the Queen will be very bored.”
Speaking as someone who worked within the confines of City Hall for a considerable time I imagine the Queen would be bored stiff by most of the people who work there. A drearier bunch I have rarely encountered.
- J., Fulham, 20/05/2009 16:34
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Barnbrook and Griffin going together..?
It would be most unfortunate if Her Majesty were to wrongly assume they are a gay couple.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County, 20/05/2009 16:31
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This is a sad day for Britain. The BNP have unsavory socialist views and should not be permitted to have this sort of platform to peddle their views. This could be the thin end of the wedge. BNP today - Labour tomorrow. Lets hope it stops here.
- Richard Holland, Lichfield, Staffordshire, 20/05/2009 16:22
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Judging by the rascist comments allegedly made by various members of this dysfunctional family, Barnbrook and Griffin should feel right at home. No wait a minute, surely they can't go, not with Liz and co being beastly Huns and Greeks and therefore not British!
- Kerry, Purley, 20/05/2009 16:17
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They will be the ones wearing Doc Martins then
- Mike, London England, 20/05/2009 16:08
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