| | The BNP's representation in the UK is entirely at the local level. It has no representatives in [[Parliament]], nor in any of Britain's regional legislatures or the [[European Parliament]]. In May 2008 Richard Barnbrook became the first BNP member to be elected to the [[London Assembly]]. Anti-nazi campaigners said a victory for the party meant "hatred, violence and stupidity".<ref>Brady, Brian [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-wins-first-seat-in-assembly-820867.html ''BNP wins first seat in assembly''] "The Independent On Sunday" 4 May 2008.</ref> Mayor-elect [[Boris Johnson]] and outgoing Mayor [[Ken Livingstone]] "pointedly walked off the stage when fifth-placed Richard Barnbrook made his speech following the announcement of the City Hall results."<ref>''BNP wins first seat in assembly'' op cit</ref> | | The BNP's representation in the UK is entirely at the local level. It has no representatives in [[Parliament]], nor in any of Britain's regional legislatures or the [[European Parliament]]. In May 2008 Richard Barnbrook became the first BNP member to be elected to the [[London Assembly]]. Anti-nazi campaigners said a victory for the party meant "hatred, violence and stupidity".<ref>Brady, Brian [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-wins-first-seat-in-assembly-820867.html ''BNP wins first seat in assembly''] "The Independent On Sunday" 4 May 2008.</ref> Mayor-elect [[Boris Johnson]] and outgoing Mayor [[Ken Livingstone]] "pointedly walked off the stage when fifth-placed Richard Barnbrook made his speech following the announcement of the City Hall results."<ref>''BNP wins first seat in assembly'' op cit</ref> |
| | + | In November 2008, the entire membership list of the BNP was posted on to the internet, detailing the names, addresses, occupations, email adresses, telephone numbers and ages of more than 13,500 secret "card carrying" members of the organisation. The list included serving [[police]] officers, [[lawyer|lawyers]], a [[Anglicanism|Church of England]] vicar, [[doctor|doctors]], [[teacher|teachers]] and members of the [[Armed Forces]], along with leading businessmen and civil servants."The BNP list also included the names and ages of children who have become members of the party after a parent has taken out a family membership, and several people who have joined the party at the age of 16. Against the name of a woman said to be a serving police officer and living on the Wirral, Merseyside, for example, is the note: "Discretion required re employment concerns - police officer", along with the names and ages of a number of her children. Other notes against the names of individuals include: "Discretion requested (employment concerns), government employee, IT consultant" and "activist (discretion requested), teacher (secondary school)"<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/19/bnp-names-web-police-security ''Police officers among BNP members listed on web''] Ian Cobain and Esther Addley [[The Guardian]], 19 November 2008. Accessed 19 November 2008.</ref> The membership list revealed that the BNP had some members in [[Australia]], one in [[Oman]] and 17 in the [[United States]]. One is the American chief executive of a City investment corporation, while another is a servant of the Queen, living at [[Buckingham Palace]]. Internet chat rooms frequented by British nazis were reported to be "buzzing with anger, indignation - and considerable alarm. One typical posting said: "The most shocking thing is some of the comments by the names! God help anyone who is in the army, the prison service, healthcare, a police officer or a teacher."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1087101/BNP-fury-ENTIRE-membership-list-10-000-leaked-internet-party-threatens-legal-action.html ''BNP fury as ENTIRE membership list of 10,000 is leaked onto internet and party threatens legal action''] Michael Lea. [[The Daily Mail]] 19 Novemer 2008. Accessed 19 November 2008.</ref> |
| | + | The membership list, which was, inadequately, password protected and encrypted, had been stolen from the party, said Simon Darby, the BNP's spokesman. Mr Darby insisted: "This isn't a question of us mislaying the information, this is theft." The party blamed anti-Nazi activists who have infiltrated the organisation. |