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BNP's Griffin invited to Palace | BNP's Griffin invited to Palace |
(about 2 hours later) | |
As a UK MEP, Mr Griffin is entitled to attend a garden party | |
British National Party leader Nick Griffin has been invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace this summer, royal officials have confirmed. | British National Party leader Nick Griffin has been invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace this summer, royal officials have confirmed. |
He received the invitation in his capacity as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) - all UK MEPs are asked as a matter of course. | |
Mr Griffin was set to attend a similar party last year but pulled out after an outcry over his possible appearance. | |
A Labour MP has described the idea of Mr Griffin attending as "sickening" | |
Mr Griffin failed in his attempt to win a seat at Westminster in last month's general election and the party's share of the vote fell sharply compared with its performance in European elections a year earlier. | Mr Griffin failed in his attempt to win a seat at Westminster in last month's general election and the party's share of the vote fell sharply compared with its performance in European elections a year earlier. |
'Stunt' | 'Stunt' |
British MEPs get tickets to one of three royal garden parties held every summer. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Mr Griffin had been invited but did not say to which of the events. | |
It is understood the BNP leader asked for three additional tickets for guests which he has been granted. | It is understood the BNP leader asked for three additional tickets for guests which he has been granted. |
Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who defeated Mr Griffin at the election, said she was dismayed at the prospect. | |
"It sickens me that Nick Griffin has used his position as an elected representative to secure an invitation to Buckingham Palace," she said. | |
"The best way to deal with the BNP is the way we dealt with them in Barking & Dagenham, which is to beat them at the ballot box." | |
Although Mr Griffin was not an MEP at the time, he was invited last year as a guest of BNP colleague and London Assembly member Richard Barnbrook. | |
The possibility of him being present prompted widespread criticism, with London Mayor Boris Johnson saying the BNP leader would use the event as a "political stunt". | |
Mr Griffin said he could have secured a "great deal of publicity" by attending but had decided against it - although he described political reaction to the issue as "hysterical". | Mr Griffin said he could have secured a "great deal of publicity" by attending but had decided against it - although he described political reaction to the issue as "hysterical". |
The BNP, which has two MEPs, is accused of stirring up racial hatred but the party says it is standing up for Britain's "indigenous population". | The BNP, which has two MEPs, is accused of stirring up racial hatred but the party says it is standing up for Britain's "indigenous population". |
It has campaigned for an end to all future immigration and for the "voluntary resettlement" of non-white British citizens to their country of ethnic origin. | It has campaigned for an end to all future immigration and for the "voluntary resettlement" of non-white British citizens to their country of ethnic origin. |