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BNP constitution 'discriminates'
10 Mar 2010- No movement in independence talks
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The British National Party has been accused of "indirectly" discriminating against black and Asian people even though the party no longer bars them from joining.
A new constitution allowing people of any ethnic origin to join the party obliged prospective members to support its principles, which meant the door was, in reality, only "pretty narrowly open" for "non-indigenous Britons", London's Central County Court heard.
But the BNP, which voted to amend its constitution last month after the Equality and Human Rights Commission took legal action over the far-right party's whites-only membership policy, denied the allegations and said it had a "waiting list" of black and Asian people and would welcome more applications from ethnic minorities.
The party will have to wait to find out if its decision to scrap the previous policy went far enough to meet race relations laws.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Paul Collins said he would issue his judgment on the matter on Friday.
During a day of legal submissions, the court heard prospective members had to sign up to principles including a duty to oppose the promotion of any form of "integration or assimilation" that impacted on the "indigenous British" and a requirement to support the "maintenance and existence of the unity and integrity of the indigenous British".
Robin Allen, QC, representing the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: "That is something which we would submit is indirectly discriminatory.
"They will put persons who do not fall into the indigenous British category at a disadvantage."
Reader views (4)
Of course the British National Party has been "accused" of indirectly discriminating, look who is behind the attack; the Labour party and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, set up and backed by the Labour party. They will make up the rules as they go along will try and abolish anything they do not agree with or does not agree with them. This smells like communism!
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 10/03/2010 02:19
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This has got nothing to do with the BNP not conforming in any way. It is all to do with the Government wanting them ‘out’ of the way. This is why after 27yrs they have decided to do this. They are not a threat to anyone other than MPs Parliament; otherwise they would have done this years ago. They know that their policies on the EU, immigration, and the Afghan war are what people have been crying out for, and they do not know how to deal with it. So it is much easier to bankrupt the party into submission. The problem they have is that most people have realised what they are up to. What sad cowards they are.
- Sylvie, Epping Essex, 10/03/2010 01:04
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What about the Black Police Officers Association?.Why aren't they in court?.It looks like Labour are trying to get the BNP shut down before the Election,because they know the BNP will take many votes away from them.!
- Mark A, Warrington, 09/03/2010 21:57
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so what has the bnp qc have to say? or does that not matter
- Micheal, newcastle, 09/03/2010 21:41
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