BNP facing accounts fine

| Friday, 27 August 2004 | Click here for original article

THE British National Party faces a fine for failing to file its annual accounts with the UK Elections Watchdog.

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said the far right group should have handed over its financial details by July 7 and was then given an extension to the end of last month but failed to meet that.

The Commission is currently considering reporting the offence to the police, which could land the BNP with a fine of up to £5000.

A spokeswoman said: "Our commissioners are now considering what action, if any, to take."

The party is currently preparing to take legal action against Barclays Bank which froze up to 20 of its accounts after a documentary showed party leader Nick Griffin expressing racist views and members of the BNP boasting about violent attacks on members of the ethnic minorities.