BNP may face race case

LONDON (Reuters) - The far-right British National Party could face a legal challenge to its membership rules and constitution, which may breach racial discrimination laws, the government's equality watchdog said on Tuesday.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it had written to BNP leader Nick Griffin, warning him that the party's membership criteria, employment practices and provision of services may be unlawful.

"As a political party with elected representatives providing leadership within Britain, you will appreciate the importance of the BNP operating a lawful membership policy that complies both on paper and in practice with the (race relations) act," the letter, which was published on the EHRC's website, said.

The BNP must provide written undertakings by July 20 that it will make changes to its criteria, or face a legal injunction.

The BNP won its first two seats in the European Parliament in elections on June 4 when Griffin and fellow BNP politician Andrew Brons won seats in the north of England.

The party, which campaigns for a halt to immigration, voluntary repatriation of immigrants and British withdrawal from the European Union, has also won local council seats but is not represented in parliament.

The EHRC said that due to the party's recent "successful gains" in a national election it was now the focus of "increased public interest and scrutiny". It said it had received complaints about the BNP's constitution and membership criteria.

The EHRC's letter highlighted an article on the BNP's official website, entitled: "Is the BNP racist?", which refers to "the fact that BNP has an all-white membership".

"The exclusion from membership of individuals whose ethnic origin in not listed constitutes unlawful discrimination on racial grounds," the letter said.