The far-right British National Party is back in court to face charges that its membership rules discriminate against non-whites.
The Equality and Human rights commission is behind the legal action, and is demanding that clauses it says are racist are removed from the BNP’s constitution.The first section still requires new members and existing members to oppose the assimilation or immigration of what BNP calls “indigenous British” people.And another requirement of joining the BNP is that new members submit to a two-hour vetting visit to their home by existing BNP members, which Judge Paul Collins ruled could be seen as "intimidatory."The Equality and Human Rights Commission is also saying that Nick Griffin, the party’s leader, is playing with them, as he has only slightly amended these clauses after he was ordered to do so. They accuse him of being a persistent offender and also a liar – lying when he says that he does not understand what the terms of the order are.So, besides the court, the party faces a hefty fine and possibly may have their assets seized.Meanwhile, despite their potentially radical views, the party has grown in popularity, as well as other right-wing parties across Europe. They gain support from people who feel that the mainstream political parties are not supporting them in their beliefs that immigration is out of control and that domestic society is being diluted by immigration – developments that are particularly common in times of economic hardship.