BNP leader Nick Griffin to stand down ... in 2013
Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, has agreed to stand down in 2013 as part of an attempt to stave off an immediate leadership challenge.
Griffin has been facing growing internal criticism after the party's disastrous performance in the general and local elections. He told a meeting of the BNP's special advisory council at the weekend that he would make way for "someone who will be able to drive support up to where it can be a serious contender for power".
Griffin was beaten into third place in its key target seat of Barking – trailing Labour's Margaret Hodge by 18,000 votes. The party failed to make any breakthrough in the council elections and lost all but two of its 28 sitting councillors.
According to the party's website, Griffin told the advisory council he was prepared to stand down in three years' time.
"By then I would have been leader of the BNP for 15 years and that is long enough," Griffin said. "It will be time to make way for a younger person who does not have any baggage which can be used against the party."
However, anti-racist campaigners described Griffin's announcement as part of a wider power struggle inside the BNP.
"Far from being a resignation this is a naked attempt by Griffin to play for time in an attempt to cling to power," said Daniel Hodges, from Searchlight.
The BNP's election campaign was dogged by problems and descended into violence on the eve of the poll when the BNP councillor and London organiser, Bob Bailey, was caught on camera fighting in the street with a group of teenagers.
Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, has agreed to stand down in 2013 as part of an attempt to stave off an immediate leadership challenge.
Griffin has been facing growing internal criticism after the party's disastrous performance in the general and local elections. He told a meeting of the BNP's special advisory council at the weekend that he would make way for "someone who will be able to drive support up to where it can be a serious contender for power".
Griffin was beaten into third place in its key target seat of Barking – trailing Labour's Margaret Hodge by 18,000 votes. The party failed to make any breakthrough in the council elections and lost all but two of its 28 sitting councillors.
According to the party's website, Griffin told the advisory council he was prepared to stand down in three years' time.
"By then I would have been leader of the BNP for 15 years and that is long enough," Griffin said. "It will be time to make way for a younger person who does not have any baggage which can be used against the party."
However, anti-racist campaigners described Griffin's announcement as part of a wider power struggle inside the BNP.
"Far from being a resignation this is a naked attempt by Griffin to play for time in an attempt to cling to power," said Daniel Hodges, from Searchlight.
The BNP's election campaign was dogged by problems and descended into violence on the eve of the poll when the BNP councillor and London organiser, Bob Bailey, was caught on camera fighting in the street with a group of teenagers.
It's interesting to note that this not only comes after the BNP's poor showing at the pools, but also after Nick Griffin's poster boy, Mark Collett was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Griffin, in what the BNP leadership described as an attempted "palace coup".
So, are we seeing an imploding BNP? Was Labour's anti-BNP campaign in Barking a success outside of the polls?
"The message of Barking to the BNP is: Get out and stay out. You are not welcome here, you are not wanted here, and your vile politics have no place in British democracy."
