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The '''British National Party (BNP)''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] neo-[[Nazi]] political party, which has been described as "a classic [[fascism|fascist]] organisation whose leaders believe in [[Nazi]] race-science and whose members carry out physical attacks on their perceived opponents."<ref>Silver, Steve. [http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/index.php?location=election&link=BNP36.htm ''Booted and suited - The BNP's Nazism'']. Originally published in [[Searchlight Magazine]] January 2004. Full version online at stopthebnp.org.uk</ref> The BNP's current leader is [[Nick Griffin]], who has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred in 1998, and is noted for [[holocaust denial]], calling the extermination of the European Jews "the Holohoax". 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]]. In the words of the BNP leader, they will also "hang race traitors."<ref>[http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/index.php?location=link5 ''Hope Not Hate''] "Stop The BNP"</ref>

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]]. Liberals and critics of the party have asserted that it is [[fascist]] or [[Neo-Nazi]], due to its hardline stance against Islamization.

The BNP has strong ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups. "The BNP claims not to be a "race supremacist" party but its publications report on the [[gene|genetic]] superiority of the "white race". It claims not to have any connection with "race hate" yet many of its leading members have [[Crime|convictions]] for racist crimes."<ref>''Hope Not Hate'' op cit</ref> 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 try to present a more respectable image but they are the same extremists that they always were.  

The BNP has been accused by opponents of having ties to [[Neo-Nazi]] and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] groups.

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 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 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>

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 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>

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 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.

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 organisation.

==See also==

==See also==

[[Category:British Political Parties]]

[[Category:British Political Parties]]