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The '''British National Party (BNP)''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] political party. The BNP's current leader is [[Nick Griffin]]. Though it is generally described as being on the right wing of politics, it espouses a number of fiscally left-wing policies. For example, although it is in favor of repatriating non-white people from the UK, it also favours substantial government involvement in the [[economy]].

The '''British National Party (BNP)''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] political party. The BNP's current leader is [[Nick Griffin]]. Though it is generally described as being on the right wing of politics, it espouses a number of fiscally left-wing policies. For example, although it is in favor of repatriating non-white people from the UK, it also favours substantial government involvement in the [[economy]].

The BNP has been accused by opponents of having ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups, and on one occasion Nick Griffin attended a meeting of white nationalists in Texas with former [[Ku Klux Klan]] leader David Duke, in which he talked about the party "selling it's ideas to the public" and eventually controlling the British Broadcasting Media to convince the British people that "every last [immigrant] must go"<ref> BNP Nick Griffin + KKK terrorist [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QolIvfQEw]</ref>, however the party claims that it is simply a strongly patriotic and nationalistic party which seeks to stand up for the rights of white British people.

The BNP has been accused by opponents of having ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups, and on one occasion Nick Griffin attended a meeting of white nationalists in Texas with former [[Ku Klux Klan]] leader David Duke<ref> BNP Nick Griffin + KKK terrorist [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QolIvfQEw]</ref>.

It has no representatives in [[Parliament]].In May 2008 Richard Barnbrook became the first BNP member to be elected to the [[London Assembly]]. Opponents 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>

It has no representatives in [[Parliament]].In May 2008 the first BNP member was be elected to the [[London Assembly]]. Opponents 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]] "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 June 2009 two members of the BNP were elected to the European parliament.

in June 2009 two members of the BNP were elected to European parliament, including Nick Griffin, who called it a "great victory... we go on from here." <ref>http://bnp.org.uk/</ref>

==Membership "leak"==

==Membership leak==

In November 2008, the [http://wikileaks.org/leak/bnp-membership-list.txt entire membership list] of the BNP was posted on to the internet, detailing the names, addresses, occupations, email adresses, telephone numbers and ages of 12,801 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 BNP members 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 November 2008. Accessed 19 November 2008.</ref>

In November 2008, the [http://wikileaks.org/leak/bnp-membership-list.txt entire membership list] of the BNP was posted on to the internet, detailing the names, addresses, occupations, email adresses, telephone numbers and ages of 12,801 members of the party. 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 <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> One is the American chief executive of a City investment corporation, while another is a servant of the Queen, living at [[Buckingham Palace]]. The membership list was inadequately password protected and encrypted.

 

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 left-wing activists who have infiltrated the organization.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==