The ignoble end: Nick Griffin expelled from BNP
Nick Griffin's time as a major player in the British National party (BNP) came to an ignoble end yesterday after he was expelled for causing "disunity".
The former leader has endured a rapid fall from the grace in the party after he lost his seat in May's European election and proceeded to lose a leadership contest two months later. He has also been declared bankrupt.
"We believe that, since being given the title of honorary president, you have put all your efforts into trying to cause disunity by deliberately fabricating a state of crisis," a conduct committee told its former leader.
"The aim of this was to again embroil the BNP in factionalism designed to destabilise our party."
Griffin has been accused of harassing BNP staff, physically threatening one of them and bringing the party into disrepute with public statements.
The committee said he was part of a report which lied about party personnel and finances and authorised the leaking of information.
The conduct committee was established by new BNP chairman Adam Walker.
A committee spokesman said Griffin's behaviour had become "more erratic and disruptive" since he lost the leadership.
"Although we all appreciate that Nick has achieved a lot for our party in the past, we must also remember that the party is bigger than any individual," he said.
"Nick did not adjust well to being given the honorary title of president and it soon became obvious that he was unable to work as an equal member of the team and alarmingly his behaviour became more erratic and disruptive."
Griffin responded to the news in a series of tweets.
Breaking news! I've just been 'expelled' without trial from the #BNP! That'll teach me to tell a member of staff he's a 'useless, lazy twat'
— Nick Griffin (@nickjgriffinbnp) October 1, 2014
Only thing is that the ruling Wigton Soviet are operating outside the constitution so I shall ignore their plastic gangster games.
— Nick Griffin (@nickjgriffinbnp) October 1, 2014
All trouble seemed to start when I told Treasurer that signing up 50 wills (£10 million?) was great but that I was insisting on safeguards.
— Nick Griffin (@nickjgriffinbnp) October 1, 2014
I didn't think it right that same man advises on wills, makes them, holds them, executes them, varies them, banks them & does accounts. ..
— Nick Griffin (@nickjgriffinbnp) October 1, 2014
What do you think? Members are FURIOUS with what's being callled the "Wigton Soviet". Their pitiful misrule won't last long.
— Nick Griffin (@nickjgriffinbnp) October 1, 2014
Far-right parties, like many on the far left, are particularly vulnerable to internecine fighting between factions and strong personalities.
Griffin sparked angry protests in 2009 when he was invited onto the BBC's Question Time programme, the same year the party won two seats at the European elections.
It is now a shadow of its former self, with the English Defence League (EDL) having a stronger street presence and Ukip channelling anti-immigrant sentiment in a more mainstream direction.
