While the actions of publishing this data should not be condoned, the buck does have to stop with Nick Griffin on this one. This situation has arisen because of significant and serious infighting in the BNP, largely as the result of Nick Griffin's authoritarian 'leadership'. A number of BNP councillors and members have been expelled for opposing NIck Griffin and there is only the liklihood of further infighting amongst members. NIck Griffin's actions would appear to have led to a collapse of discipline and control within the BNP.

I could hark on all day about the BNP's policies (and I mean their real policies, not the watered down versions that they tell the public), but this issue is about the collapse of leadership within the BNP. I don't dare hope that this will lead to a significant split within the BNP, but at least now people will see that both principally and as an organisation the BNP lacks credability and basic competence at any level.

Good and fair comments jack, however what seems unfair is that you can lose your job/career for being a member of a legal legitimate political party.
I'm no fan of BNP or their extreme policies, but there seems an awful lot of hypocracy in our political world when it comes to deciding whats democratic and what isn't.
As Voltaire wrote : "I may not agree with what you've said, but i'll defend to the death your right to say it." It would appear that being a member of the Anti-nazi league is perfectly ok, but a member of BNP ooooohh too risky !!!

I think the question comes into whether or not being a member of the BNP comes into conflict with the principles of the organisation that you work for or the group that you are a member of. For example, trade unionism is the very antithesis of what the BNP stand for, so it would appear peculiar for a BNP member to be a member of a Trade Union and somehow claim to share the values of trade unionism. However, decisions to exclude BNP members from certain professions is, I believe, legally protected. So, if anyone is to argue that the BNP is a legitimate party (which, sadly, under the law they are), then one has to accept that there are legal avenues for employers to decide that political affiliation is at odds with their stated principles and thus take appropriate action.

It also worth noting that while Voltaire is oft quoted, the situation in the BNP has developed precisely because the leadership does not accept that their members have the right to express a different viewpoint. Voltaire is being neatly excluded from Nick Griffen's actions and decision making it would seem.

Voltaire, incidently, is not a green light to say whatever you like; I can think of many instances where there is a boundary between the principles of free speech and the moral obligations that contain it. Apply Voltaire literally and those moral obligations go out the window - I can't see that being acceptable at all.

"It is thought the list may include lapsed members of the party and the names and addresses of people who have expressed an interest in joining the party but have not signed up."
In other words, not members.
Even if all those listed were members, 56 is pathetically small. If the leaking of this list has embarrassed Nick Griffin at all, it will be because the membership figures are far, far lower than he himself has repeatedly claimed.

Oh, and in case you're wondering why he's pictured outside a police station, it's because some of the people on that list have recently been arrested for spreading their hate-filled propaganda - yet another sign that the BNP supports criminal behaviour.

#2 - I agree. You cannot pick and choose who has democratic right to be a member of legal organisation. Although I do not support BNP we have a democratic right to voice opinion and membership to political parties. If your job performance is effected by your membership of ANY policital party/organisation should be the right disciplinary procedures in place to stop bad work (this across the political line, far left to far right). If party break the law as in inciting hatred/violence (proved in court) then ban them but if they offensive they are expressing democratic right.

Why do most commets say "I dont support BNP" when deep down inside yourselves you would support them if they could actually sort out this appalling state the country is in with the influx of Eastern Europeans and other nationalities. The BNP statnds for BRITISH Nationalist Party and that is why I support them and an proud to. Stop the immigration into Britain and we might get back to normality and be BRITISH once again.

If you can't trust the leadership of a political party to keep its membership lists confidential, how on earth can you trust them to lead a local council...?

I don't support the BNP, because deep down I know they couldn't solve any of this country's problems as long as they keep trying to blame it all on immigration.

And the LEP stands for LANCASHIRE Evening Post - not the LONDON Evening Post :-)

Sparrow, the Britain I am proud to live in is a historic melting pot of people from many nations and cultures - arguably the most successfully integrated country on this planet. The one you dream of hasn't existed in these islands since 1066. You think you're a realist. But you're a dreamer.

Of course the BNP shouldn’t be allowed to do certain jobs. Their whole political philosophy is built round the fact that their beliefs in the superiority and inferiority of different cultures. Remember the leaflet their produced showing different sizes of brains depending on your cultural background. Today’s BNP s no different than that.

How can they be trusted to teach people equally when they don’t believe certain of their pupils are genetically inferior to others; how can their administer medicine when they believe the best should be reserved for superior races; how can they administer law when they believe different cultures require different laws.

These people base their policies on hate and would use violence to impose their evil views on our society. If they loose their jobs then I think this country will be a fairer and better place.