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BNP conference: I'm in charge, says Nick Griffin | BNP conference: I'm in charge, says Nick Griffin |
(about 7 hours later) | |
BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party is through its "rocky patch" and is now "on the up again", as members gather for their annual conference. | BNP leader Nick Griffin says his party is through its "rocky patch" and is now "on the up again", as members gather for their annual conference. |
Mr Griffin, who was narrowly re-elected party leader in July, told the BBC the majority of the party was behind him. | Mr Griffin, who was narrowly re-elected party leader in July, told the BBC the majority of the party was behind him. |
"I'm in charge and that's the end of it," he told the BBC Politics Show North West. | "I'm in charge and that's the end of it," he told the BBC Politics Show North West. |
The anti-immigration party has struggled with debts, infighting and poor results in May's local elections. | The anti-immigration party has struggled with debts, infighting and poor results in May's local elections. |
The BNP has not disclosed the exact location of its conference for what it says are security reasons, but members are believed to be meeting in Liverpool. | The BNP has not disclosed the exact location of its conference for what it says are security reasons, but members are believed to be meeting in Liverpool. |
It has been hit by internal divisions and lost 11 of the 13 seats it was defending in May's English local elections - including all five of its councillors in Stoke on Trent. | It has been hit by internal divisions and lost 11 of the 13 seats it was defending in May's English local elections - including all five of its councillors in Stoke on Trent. |
'Massively overspent' | 'Massively overspent' |
Mr Griffin, who has been party leader since 1999, was re-elected in July, beating his fellow MEP Andrew Brons by just nine votes, and told his party that the "time for division and disruption is over". | Mr Griffin, who has been party leader since 1999, was re-elected in July, beating his fellow MEP Andrew Brons by just nine votes, and told his party that the "time for division and disruption is over". |
In an interview with the BBC's Politics Show North West, Mr Griffin said: "We've had some turmoil. We were massively overspent after, especially, the European elections - we've clawed that back and we are back on the right road. | In an interview with the BBC's Politics Show North West, Mr Griffin said: "We've had some turmoil. We were massively overspent after, especially, the European elections - we've clawed that back and we are back on the right road. |
Maybe 100 people will gather in Liverpool for this year's party conference but the mood will be gloomy. | Maybe 100 people will gather in Liverpool for this year's party conference but the mood will be gloomy. |
It is the BNP's first major conference since this summer's leadership election. | It is the BNP's first major conference since this summer's leadership election. |
Nick Griffin won that by just nine votes, as the party split down the middle. | Nick Griffin won that by just nine votes, as the party split down the middle. |
And the wounds are still festering. Andrew Brons, the party's other MEP who challenged for the leadership, has virtually accused Mr Griffin's side of cheating. | And the wounds are still festering. Andrew Brons, the party's other MEP who challenged for the leadership, has virtually accused Mr Griffin's side of cheating. |
In turn, Nick Griffin accuses his colleague of being bitter and "yesterday's man". | In turn, Nick Griffin accuses his colleague of being bitter and "yesterday's man". |
There could well be angry confrontations as members wonder how the BNP has gone from having about 60 councillors in England to fewer than ten. | There could well be angry confrontations as members wonder how the BNP has gone from having about 60 councillors in England to fewer than ten. |
Just two years ago the party was celebrating unprecedented success at the European elections. | Just two years ago the party was celebrating unprecedented success at the European elections. |
Since then voters have been offered infighting, as well as allegations of financial incompetence. | Since then voters have been offered infighting, as well as allegations of financial incompetence. |
Mr Griffin had promised to stand down as chairman in 2013 but now says he will continue until at least 2015. | Mr Griffin had promised to stand down as chairman in 2013 but now says he will continue until at least 2015. |
Mr Griffin's position as leader might well be secure but the party's future is far less certain. | Mr Griffin's position as leader might well be secure but the party's future is far less certain. |
The membership ranks behind the chairman are thinning out. | The membership ranks behind the chairman are thinning out. |
"I think in terms of general soft public support, what I get out on the streets is we are stronger. In terms of it translating into victories at local elections, we are up against a really effective Labour Party machine which concentrates against us - it has knocked us back." | "I think in terms of general soft public support, what I get out on the streets is we are stronger. In terms of it translating into victories at local elections, we are up against a really effective Labour Party machine which concentrates against us - it has knocked us back." |
But he said recent council by-elections had seen the BNP triumph over the Lib Dems and Tories adding: "We are on the up again." | But he said recent council by-elections had seen the BNP triumph over the Lib Dems and Tories adding: "We are on the up again." |
Asked about the party's election losses in May, Mr Griffin claimed the vote had remained "rock solid" but said Labour had "brilliantly exploited the postal vote" at local elections. | Asked about the party's election losses in May, Mr Griffin claimed the vote had remained "rock solid" but said Labour had "brilliantly exploited the postal vote" at local elections. |
"But we've worked out what to do and we're going to be back." | "But we've worked out what to do and we're going to be back." |
The BNP has struggled with debts run up during election campaigns. | |
It was also engaged in a long-running court battle with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over its policy of restricting membership to "indigenous British people". | It was also engaged in a long-running court battle with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over its policy of restricting membership to "indigenous British people". |
The BNP scrapped the rule but the EHRC accused party leader Nick Griffin of failing to comply with an order to remove potentially racist clauses from his party's constitution. | The BNP scrapped the rule but the EHRC accused party leader Nick Griffin of failing to comply with an order to remove potentially racist clauses from his party's constitution. |
Last year Mr Griffin fought off an attempt to have him declared guilty of contempt of court at the High Court - which rejected the EHRC's bid to seize the party's assets. | Last year Mr Griffin fought off an attempt to have him declared guilty of contempt of court at the High Court - which rejected the EHRC's bid to seize the party's assets. |
Internal party documents seen by Panorama reveal that 12 months ago the BNP owed creditors more than £570,000. Mr Griffin recently said the party now owes just £52,000. | Internal party documents seen by Panorama reveal that 12 months ago the BNP owed creditors more than £570,000. Mr Griffin recently said the party now owes just £52,000. |
In his interview with the Politics Show North West, Mr Griffin claimed that "everyone, from the far left through the BBC and all sorts of neo-Nazi cranks - they're all against Nick Griffin actually, everyone is except ordinary people out there". | In his interview with the Politics Show North West, Mr Griffin claimed that "everyone, from the far left through the BBC and all sorts of neo-Nazi cranks - they're all against Nick Griffin actually, everyone is except ordinary people out there". |
"We've got enormous support which we are going to build on. This has been a rocky patch which we have come through, I'm in charge for the next four years and we are going to move forward. | "We've got enormous support which we are going to build on. This has been a rocky patch which we have come through, I'm in charge for the next four years and we are going to move forward. |
"I'm in charge and the majority of the party is happy with that." | "I'm in charge and the majority of the party is happy with that." |
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