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The '''British National Party (BNP)''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] political party. The BNP's current leader is [[Nick Griffin]], who has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred in 1986, and is noted for [[holocaust denial]]. 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 favour of repatriating non-white people from the UK, it also favours substantial government involvement in the [[economy]]. Other BNP policies include the reintroduction of [[capital punishment]] for murder, rape and paedophilia, the introduction of corporal punishment for vandals and 'hoodies' and the withdrawal of the UK from the [[European Union]]. The BNP also supports the recriminalisation of homosexuality.

The '''British National Party (BNP)''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] political party. The BNP's current leader is [[Nick Griffin]], who has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred in 1986, and is noted for [[holocaust denial]]. 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 favour of repatriating non-white people from the UK, it also favours substantial government involvement in the [[economy]]. Other BNP policies include the reintroduction of [[capital punishment]] for murder, rape and paedophilia, the introduction of corporal punishment for vandals and 'hoodies' and the withdrawal of the UK from the [[European Union]]. The BNP also supports the recriminalisation of homosexuality.

The BNP has strong ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups. However the party now also tries to "cash in on what it perceives to be the growth in Islamophobia" with its leader stating: "It stands to reason that adopting an 'Islamophobic' position that appeals to large numbers of ordinary people - including un-nudged journalists - is going to produce on average much better media coverage than siding with Iran and banging on about 'Jewish power', which is guaranteed to raise hackles of virtually every single journalist in the western world."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/10/thefarright.race ''BNP seeks to bury antisemitism and gain Jewish votes in Islamophobic campaign'']</ref> Griffin describes Islam as a 'wicked, vicious faith'.

The BNP has strong ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups. However the party now also tries to "cash in on what it perceives to be the growth in Islamophobia" with its leader stating: "It stands to reason that adopting an 'Islamophobic' position that appeals to large numbers of ordinary people - including un-nudged journalists - is going to produce on average much better media coverage than siding with Iran and banging on about 'Jewish power', which is guaranteed to raise hackles of virtually every single journalist in the western world."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/10/thefarright.race ''BNP seeks to bury antisemitism and gain Jewish votes in Islamophobic campaign'']</ref> This superficial repackaging of their party - without actually disavowing their neo-Nazi ideology - is simply an attempt commonly seen, particularly post-[[9/11]], in politicians and movements of the ultra-right to make a strategic breakthrough by appealing to a more mainstream audience.  

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]].

 

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>

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