BNP seek to infiltrate UKIP

| Monday, 23 February 2004 Source: Searchlight

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) claimed last month that members of the BNP had attempted to infiltrate a branch of their party.

They said that they had intercepted emails which indicated a "far reaching plan" to disrupt its campaign for the European elections in June. UKIP added that members of the BNP hoped to "distort" the result of UKIP's on-going elections to its ruling National Executive Committee.

John Brayshaw, national treasurer of the BNP, joined the Vale of York branch in October of last year. When Brayshaw position within the BNP was discovered, UKIP expelled him.

Also expelled was Andrew Edwards, a former chairman of UKIP's Bath branch, who it claimed was discovered to be passing information to the BNP.

UKIP chairman David Lott said, "We are aware that the BNP is targeting UKIP, and as a consequence are always vigilant for attempts such as this. There are no circumstances under which we would ever deal with the BNP, or any other extremist party".

Godfrey Bloom, UKIP's election candidate for Yorkshire and Humberside, echoed Mr Lott's sentiments, adding, "It is difficult for a party which is growing as UKIP to keep track of who has joined…

"Extremists such as Brayshaw and Edwards should be aware, however, that we will find them and expel them in the end. Their views will simply not be tolerated within UKIP".

Mr Brayshaw told the Yorkshire Evening Press that as far as he knew he was still legally a member of UKIP.

He said, "I received notification of expulsion via the website and have not received any formal expulsion notification.

"I think I am still a member until they arrange a tribunal under their own legislation.

"I am disappointed with the way they have handled it.

"They have decided on gut responses to protect themselves and broken an agreement we had".