BNP leader – arrest was ‘electoral scam’
The Government is trying to “demonise” the British National Party, leader Nick Griffin said last night.
Mr Griffin was released on bail yesterday after being questioned on suspicion of inciting racial hatred under the Public Order Act.
The Cambridge graduate said the arrest was part of a campaign to “demonise” the far-right party.
“After that the CPS know the charges against me won’t stick. They’re going to be dropped quietly after the election,” he said.
“This is an electoral scam to get the Muslim block vote back to the Labour Party.
“The police have nothing to do with this. The CPS, David Blunkett, John Prescott, Tony Blair are having a go at a dangerous political rival.”
Mr Griffin was arrested by West Yorkshire Police at his home in Wales early yesterday morning.
He was then taken to Halifax Police Station, where video evidence was played of some of his speeches.
The arrest comes after the BBC programme Secret Agent, which secretly filmed footage showing BNP activists openly talking about race-hate crimes.
In the film, Mr Griffin attacked the precepts of Islam, describing it as a “wicked’ faith.
On his release yesterday, he repeated the sentiment, saying: “I was talking about the menace of Islamic fundamentalism to this country and, until next year, thank God, that is still not against the law.”
Three Bradford men have since been charged with racially aggravated harassment as part of the probe into the programme.
Mr Griffin’s lawyer Duncan Lamont said if the case came to court the defence may argue the remarks made in the documentary were taken out of context.
“The documentary could even be argued, perhaps by the defendant, that they gave a misleading impression of the entirety of his speech.”
The men are due to appear before Leeds Magistrates’ Court on December 16.
Mr Griffin has said he plans to fight Home Secretary David Blunkett’s Sheffield Brightside constituency seat at the next general election.
