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UKIP rejects BNP electoral offer UKIP rejects BNP electoral offer
(40 minutes later)
UKIP says it has "unanimously rejected" an offer from the British National Party for an electoral pact at next year's European elections.UKIP says it has "unanimously rejected" an offer from the British National Party for an electoral pact at next year's European elections.
It says ex-tennis star Buster Mottram, a UKIP member who claimed to represent the BNP, made the "astonishing offer" at a meeting in London on Monday.It says ex-tennis star Buster Mottram, a UKIP member who claimed to represent the BNP, made the "astonishing offer" at a meeting in London on Monday.
Under the deal the BNP would fight seats in the north while UKIP would focus on the south in the elections.Under the deal the BNP would fight seats in the north while UKIP would focus on the south in the elections.
The BNP said a deal made sense. UKIP says it would not work with the BNP.The BNP said a deal made sense. UKIP says it would not work with the BNP.
The UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain to withdraw from the European Union, says Mr Mottram has since been expelled from the party.The UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain to withdraw from the European Union, says Mr Mottram has since been expelled from the party.
'No deal''No deal'
They say he turned up at a meeting of its national executive committee in Whitehall earlier, claiming to represent BNP leader Nick Griffin.They say he turned up at a meeting of its national executive committee in Whitehall earlier, claiming to represent BNP leader Nick Griffin.
The party says he refused to leave the meeting after the offer was rejected and they called the police, after which he left.The party says he refused to leave the meeting after the offer was rejected and they called the police, after which he left.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever.UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever.
We are aware there are people very highly placed in UKIP who are very sympathetic to the logic that the vote could be split, that was where we were coming from Simon DarbyBNP
"I'm simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party.""I'm simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party."
In the 2004 European elections, UKIP more than doubled its share of the vote to 16%, with 12 MEPs.In the 2004 European elections, UKIP more than doubled its share of the vote to 16%, with 12 MEPs.
The BNP's vote share was 4.9% - more than 800,000 votes - although it failed to get a seat in the Brussels parliament.The BNP's vote share was 4.9% - more than 800,000 votes - although it failed to get a seat in the Brussels parliament.
But the BNP's candidate in this year's London mayoral elections came fifth with 69,710 votes and won the party's first seat on the London Assembly. UKIP's candidate came seventh with 22,422.But the BNP's candidate in this year's London mayoral elections came fifth with 69,710 votes and won the party's first seat on the London Assembly. UKIP's candidate came seventh with 22,422.
BNP leader Mr Griffin told the BBC it made electoral sense for the two parties to avoid standing against each other at the European elections in June 2009.BNP leader Mr Griffin told the BBC it made electoral sense for the two parties to avoid standing against each other at the European elections in June 2009.
He said he had spoken to a number of UKIP party members about the deal. BNP spokesman Simon Darby said the approach had been made "with a view to ending this ridiculous situation of splitting the anti-Euro federalist vote".
"We are aware there are people very highly placed in UKIP who are very sympathetic to the logic that the vote could be split, that was where we were coming from.
"Someone has to take a lead on this if we are not to continue to be propelled into this federalist monster."
UKIP says the BNP has been "working very hard to infiltrate" its ranks and that it expects more people to leave UKIP within the next few months.UKIP says the BNP has been "working very hard to infiltrate" its ranks and that it expects more people to leave UKIP within the next few months.
It says two NEC members who they accuse of campaigning against Mr Farage's leadership were also expelled. It estimates there is a group of 40 "disenchanted" members who want the party to change direction.
Two NEC members the party accuses of campaigning against Mr Farage's leadership were also expelled earlier.