Judge sets date for BNP retrial

| Thursday, 16 February 2006 Source: BBC News

The leader of the British National Party (BNP) and a fellow activist are to face a retrial on race hate charges on 15 May, a judge has said.

Nick Griffin, 46, denies using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred and using words or behaviour likely to stir up racial hatred.

Mark Collett, 24, of Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire, faces four similar charges.

The charges relate to speeches the pair made in West Yorkshire in 2003.

An undercover reporter recorded the speeches which were later broadcast on the BBC.

Mr Griffin, of Llanerfyl, Powys, Mid Wales, and Mr Collett, who are both on bail, did not appear at the hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Earlier this month a jury failed to reach verdicts on these charges following a trial in Leeds. The pair were cleared of a number of similar counts.