communist Russia, nazi Germany, Saddam's Iraq, and now the UK; a waste of innocent blood during WWII to end up like this.

Ron Blevins, los angeles, california, u.s.a.

Seems to me that the way the current climate is in this country I should feel apologetic for being born British. I have been verbally abused for being proud of my British roots in the place where I belong. Get real people of Britain...no other country treats their nationals in this diabolical way

Tracy , Norfolk, Great Britain

People need to finally wake up to what the EUstablishment is doing.

Adrian Peirson, luton, UK

As a listed member of the BNP, I am not ashamed in the slightest, however, if I choose to list my clients' names and addresses on an open website I am in breach of Data Protection Act. Am I not entitled to the same protection? These double standards are what the BNP is fighting against!!

Karen, leigh,

"A member of a police force shall in particular not take any active part in politics".

Hm, i;m not sure that this mean that policeman can't be member of political party.
Is it illegal then for policeman to be member of the labour party in Britain?

Angel, Sofia, Bulgaria

I thoroughly disagree with the policies of the BNP, but I disagree a great deal more with the authorities making opportunistic use of a list that was leaked in breach of the Data Protection Act. The police ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for using such tainted material.

John Hardy, Redditch, UK

It will be interesting to see if there is a 'sympathy' vote for the BNP at the next election. There are not banned so must be legal.

SteveW, Birmingham, UK

Ok....So they are prob laughing at all the attention they are getting at the moment....they stand for an extreame version of what many britons feel. I wouldn't join and feel that they are too out there but where else do you go? Sacking for being a party member? Playing to their ideals I think......

Ruth, Melbourne, Aus

I'm quite interested to hear what the BNP have to say, if only to make up my own mind about them. I suspect many who automatically reject and pillory them are just reacting to a media stereotype and really haven't a clue. Whatever happened to democracy and freedom of speech?

Chris k, Cheltenham, UK

So just to clarify the matter: We in Britain are no longer a democracy. That must be correct if you can be sacked for being a member of a perfectly legal political party.

Nick, Sale, England

As long as the officer(s) concerned carry out their duties without fear or favour - ie. impartially, it matters not one jot what his/ their politics, religion or beliefs are.
This is similar to the attempted hounding of freemasons in the public sector. The masons were vindicated in the EU court.

John E Bailey, Wakefield, UK

I hope that whoever gets sacked over this, takes it to the High Court and wins.

In a democracy such as this, people should be allowed to support any legal party we so choose.

There are plenty of 'other 'organisations out there that being a member of should prevent you from being a policeman etc

Liam, London, UK

People should be more embarassed to be members of the Labour party in this day and age.

A Warrilow, Market Drayton, Shropshire

If any of these people do lose their jobs over this they take their case to the European courts claiming a breach of their human rights.

Freedom of speach and opinion doesn't work if you only allow it to people you agree with! If you don't understand that you're worsre than the BNP.

Edd Bullen, Melbourne, Australia

Robert asks: "How can a "democracy" bar people from being menbers of a political party?"

Our claims of being a democracy grow weaker by the day-whichever party is concerned this is a worrying development. What next- McCarthy -style witchhunts-internet censorship thought police, ID card, implants?

Ian, Stirling,

The top of the report states 'alleged.' The information was obtained from a blog. Even if true was his 'crime' any worse because of his choice of political party than if he had chosen Labour? If he breeched his contract, he breeched his contract , and the party is and should remain irrelevant.

William Ferguson, Bangor, UK

So Peter Fahy Tell me can white police officers join the Black Police Association? If not why not? And does that not conflict with your statement of promoting equality under the Race Relations Amendment Act.

Gary, Swindon,

"If a political party is legal,then it is legal for its members to be policemen."
Angel, Sofia, Bulgaria

Completely wrong. Regulation 6 of the Police Regulations states;

"A member of a police force shall in particular not take any active part in politics".

They must stay politically impartial.

Steve, Peterborough,

I believe strongly in racial and sexual equality. However religious equality always get lumped in with that which i dont accept at all. Most religions have core values more extreme than the BNP. Lets see religious, university clubs and masonic lists published if we are going to demonise the BNP

Michael, London, UK

This is great news.

Finally, the same people who took so much pleasure in posting the details of anti-nazi protestors and their pictures, including family members, are getting a taste of their own medicine.

E.Powell, Colne, UK

I fully endorse a party which seems to believe that we look after our families and fellow british people first. What is wrong with that? My family has long deep ancestery in this once great country.Wars fought, taxes paid.And now! Non-english speaking women with five kids waiting at the doctors.

Ray, Colne,

I would like to see the ban against Police and Prison officers tested by Human Rights Laws it can not be right to ban people from joining a legal political party. if that person does not do their job correctly then they should be disciplined but not just for joining a political party.

Darren Relf, Ruislip, Uk

''The BNP hate Democracy, freedom of speech ''

So you want to demonise them, or ban them from speaking?

Can't you see the irony of your position?

michael clarke, windsor, UK

If the police are not allowed to join any political party because they should be treating everyone equally, then why are they allowed to form political organisations at all, like the Black and Gay Police Associations? Isn't showing favouritism as unequal as showing discrimination?

DT, Kettering, UK

Freedom of thought and speech, either applies to us all, or it applies to none of us! Freedom to vote and join a political party, applies to all of us, or it applies to none of us.The dead of two world wars laid down their lives so we could enjoy those rights, yet many of you would see them given up

Ian, Budleigh Salterton, Devon

There racists, sexists, anti-this and thats in other parties and other walks of life. Should we ban members of far left groups nursing rich kids, or christians from arresting muslims, or creationists from teaching science. There are cops with gun and assualt convictions, lets sort them out first.

Father Ignatius Brown, Norwich, Norfolk

Whatever the issues regarding the rights and wrongs of the BNP, posting people's personal details on the internet without their knowledge or approval is plain wrong. I wonder how members of other political parties /organisations would react if their details. were posted on the internet?

Kevin, Portsmouth, England

I don't think this is legal.
If a political party is legal,then it is legal for its members to be policemen.
In my opinion, there is a strong case for this to be called illegal.

Angel, Sofia, Bulgaria

The BNP hate Democracy, freedom of speech and all the other things we should love. Stop imagining that they give a damn for it other than for power!
--

That's not the point. We don't rise above fascism by being fascists. Which is something the Communists/Socio-fascists never understood.

Chris, Nottingham,

NO KAZUKI YOU STOP:

Check out their website. There is NOTHING, about stopping freedom of speech and/or democracy.

Let VOTERS decide what they think of them (good or bad) at the ballot box. But don't use the very fascist intimidation tactics that the BNPs critics wrongly say they use.

bertie, london,

So basically, you're entitled to have your own opinion....unless someone else doesn't like it. There's 2 words for this: communism and fascism. We live in a fascist-communist-democracy. Contradiction anyone?!

Ana, Lytham, UK

Orwell was right, dammit! He was only thirty years off!

James David, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Just how much longer to we have to live under this government with its totalitarian ideology? Labour are ripping out the very frame of this country. They are like impetuous children casting aside our long-fought-for freedoms without any thought at all as to the consequences of their actions.

Jason, London,

Would it not be more sensible - and enforceable - to ban the police from smoking. After all, there are many places in the country where you cannot smoke but you can be a member of the BNP, and both habits are equally obnoxious.

Tom S, London,

I thought England was a democracy.

I never realised the police were tasked by their employers, the taxpayer, to determine which political parties could function, and to harrass those who made a different choice.

What then, is a police state, if not this?

Alastair Johnson, Alicante, Spain

police should never be allowed to be members of the bnp fascist organisation they dont want what is most wonderful about Britain, its multicultural society

lau, bedford,

Iast week Trevor Philips chairman of the race council - or whatever it's called this week - said an Obama would never get elected in the UK because the people in power are racist. Well he wasn't refering to the BNP and if there are racists within their ranks then racists are not confined to the BNP.

Andy, Chesterfield, England

I thought the definition of news was 'Man bites dog'. Surely a policeman being a member of the BNP comes into the 'Dog bites man" category.

Tom S, London,

union jack flag....9.99
dodgey polyester tie.....3.99
masses of peak viewing airtime,national press,radio and web....priceless.
Lets see how these boys get on in the next election

r baker, canterbury, england

Are we not in this county ecouraged to express ourselves and to take intrest in political partys? People should not be remove from their jobs because of what they political party they support and if so is that not discrimination? So what happened to an anti-discrimination and democratic society?

Andy, Brighton,

ALL OF YOU STOP:

The BNP hate Democracy, freedom of speech and all the other things we should love. Stop imagining that they give a damn for it other than for power!

Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan

In which other E.U.countries are the police banned from
joining a legal political party?

k.h.seaton., stockport, England

Sacking a policeman for being a BNP member is like sacking a priest for practising satanic rituals in their spare time. Perfectly justified. The two occupations are mutually exclusive.

When you ajoin the police force you agree to a code of conduct, being a BNP member contradicts this.

Tom, London, UK

i think it was voltre who said of someone "i despise all that you say but i shall fight to the death to maintain your right to say it ", that is freedom of speech in a democracy , what has happened to the great british democrary that the UK Gov wants to take to Iraq etc , we should all protest

colin ansell, gauldry, scotland

Time to get out the passport and get the hell out!

Rodd, dundee, UK

What happened to privacy? What happened to freedom of expression? What happened to freedom of speech? No wonder people join the B.N.P. I think they should fight this. If not in this country then in the European Court.

M A Parr, St Helens, England

Sacking the police, teachers etc is wrong. What next from the powers that be, a full frontal labotomy for everyone so we all toe the line. They are very scared of the BNP so would not be surprised if intelligence infiltration is involved.

Deb, Surbiton, UK

isn't this discrimination? I myself do not support the BNP but lurching left and becoming PC Britain again infringes upon our rights. what about the extremist muslims who are part of groups that openly protest for the slaughter of those who insult their religion? do they get fired as well

Alex, London, England

I can at least see here that I am not the only one who is appalled that a Police Officer, Prison Officer or anyone else can be banned by his employers from being a member of a single political party. Unless this ban is applied to all political party membership it hardly seems "liberal" or fair.

Craig Cooper, Blackpool, GB

Well done to the police and talksports for getting rid of these people ,for those that say you should be able to join a political party no country in the world allows their police officers to join any political party while serving .

there is no room for racism in 21st century britain !

imran, manchester, uk

Anyone dismissed form emplyment for being a member of any legal political party, whatever assumptions may have been made about it or their "morality", should be in a very good position to claim hefty damages.

Anna, London, UK

As for Jackie Smiths comment, i'm not sure what i'd dislike more people knowing i was a Lbour Party member or a member of the BNP. Both are equally out of touch and taboo

Stuart, London,

It is amazing to read so many people expressing their disgust about BNP. Only if BNP members had a similar sense about British & British values.

So BNP members are scared now. Isn't there a saying "What goes around comes around".

John Abraham, Barking, UK

excellent stuff. they've been harassing anti racism campaigners with violence and threats for years (see redwatch). now the boot is on the other foot. we can see whether one of their members teachers in our children's school, or polices our street.

marc, london, london

If there are no complaints of Racism against this Officer, how has his membership of the BNP "damaged race relations", it hasnt. However the publication of his name may well of done, up until that point the Officers views were privately held as is their democratic right.

Ray , Cheshire, England

If your comment on here says 'I don't support the BNP then your a sympathizer. If you are not why try to explain the obvious? I don't think any of you will be talking like this if you have ever been persecuted just cos you are a minority. Shame on you all for excusing racism. Take a walk in my shoes

Adegbola Arimoro , London , UK

Much ado about NOTHING. Who cares what the BNP member thinks and hopes for as long as he does'nt act out his/her political beliefs. Isn't it a democracy after all? As a black person I find the attention given to the leek very offensive, almost akin to the recognition given to Robert Mugabe's antics.

Indod'emnyama, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

If you attend a church, does that make you a Christian? If you attend a house party, does that mean you love techno? If you line up at a McDonalds does that make you a hamburger?

guthrie, Milwaukee, USA

I am no supporter of the BNP, but it looks like the UK has now entered it's official period of McCarthyism (In reverse of course). The UK is/has become a more control freak society than I could have ever imagined possible.

Tom, Alicante, Spain

Looks like he's helped himself to Elton's fridge as well.

peter, Lancashire,

This is prophicised in Animal Farm, some are more equal than others in a supposedly equal society. The Human Rights Act might even be some use in this case, as this discrimination of political belief is clearly contrary to its purpose. The Government will ban the Tories next as being "opposition"!

David, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Nice to see that McCarthyism is alive and well in modern Britain.

Edward, London, UK

Charles; the NHS didn't create shortages that weren't there already. It opened up access to all to health care and retained a private sector (which is much cheaper than yours) that fulfils the demands of the market. The public sector can't meet all demand but it's better than nothing for the poor.

Andrew, Fareham,

The BNP detests freedom of speech and civil liberties yet they would use it as a shield to permit their existence.

Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan

The police are a special case and their press department should make that clear.

I am a recently retired police officer. Police officers are not allowed to join any political party. That doesn't stop them for voting for whoever they want to.

Beyond that the BNP are not a banned or illegal party.

John Moore, Paphos, Cyprus

I suppose it would be perfectly acceptable then for a police officer to be a member of the Socialist Workers Party, a Trotskyist organisation which has, in the past been equally if not more violent than the BNP.

Keith, Grantham,

To John from Salford: if you are so pro-Britain and BNP, perhaps you should learn how to spell in English: it's "corrupt", not "currupt".

Jon, madrid,

The communist party was only marginally less offensive, and yet its members and fellow travellers (of which I was once somewhat naively one) have frequently been in positions of responsibility and influence.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Has the liberalization of your laws and culture REALLY made your lives better? Did nationalization of health care cure all of your problems, or create shortages? Would the careful scrutiny of outsiders make life safer? The whole world comes to us-not we to theirs. once ruined where will we go to?

charles, Atlanta, Georgia, US

While I believe that you if people want to be a member of the BNP then they should go ahead and do it, I do agree that organisations have a right to not want to be associated with people with these political views.
Surely this is simply the free right of opinion that any business should also have?

Joe, Leicester,

Looks as though Griffin has stolen Elton John's hair.

John, Chichester, United Kingdom

The scariest thing is that it seems the BNP's thin veneer of respectability has obviously fooled the majority of our 'outraged' fellow readers.

Tom, London,

There too much liberal nonsense defending the BNP. Their freedom is freedom to harass other groups. WASPs more interested in their inalienable right to be repulsive than for other people to walk the streets safely. You are showing your true colours.

james, zurich, switzerland

Whilst I think a large portion of BNP members are racist this cannot be proved so you can't ban someone from a job because you assume they are racist.
With democracy people can say nasty things you disagree with, that is the nature of it, this is far better than someone deciding what you can say!

Pete, Newcastle,

What about a policeman in Northern Ireland who is also a member of Sinn Fein? Or a policeman who is a member of the Communist Party? What's so special and dangerous about the BNP?

John, Edinburgh, UK

This just shows how currupt the liberal/left really are. The sooner more people open their eyes and vote BNP the better

John, Salford, England

I teach foreign students, and I'm delighted that the list has been published. Anyone stupid enough to be on it needs watching.

mark, bethesda, wales

The police must treat all people equally. The BNP do not think that all people are equal, therefore, being in the BNP is incompatible with being a policeman. Period.

This has nothing to do with democracy, free speech etc. Not being allowed to be a policeman doesn't make the BNP illegal.

Matthew, Ringwood, UK

Much of our legislation allows the police a degree of discretion in its enforcement. Some police officers, members of the BNP or not, abuse that discretion. I would think that membership of the BNP would likely make that worse. I'm in favour of the ban.

Dee Coombes, Liverpool, UK

I'm troubled by this treatment of BNP members. I don't know if it is a fascist organisation or not but, even (and especially) if it is, the principle of free political association is profoundly important. And I lost many family members in the WW2 death camps.

Chris L, London, England

Being in the BNP does not make you a racist.

Isnt this country about freedom of speech. In

Colin, Dartford,

Freedom of political association.

SPJ, London , uk

Being a police officer is a job that requires neutrality and common ground. Groups such as NBPA have been setup to promote this - it is implicitly clear the BNP campaigns for completely the opposite. The police force have made the right choice in this matter.

Rik Storey, Birmingham, UK

The far right have been printing the names, addresses AND photos of so-called 'reds' on Redwatch for years now and calling them 'traitors' and yet nothing is done about that. My mum is even on there. And yet printing names of the far-right (who promote hatred) causes this much hoo-ha.

Arabella Mayer, London, UK

Its not about the party...its about racist motivation of the party that is the reason you can get sack. Usual public service contracts states "must not be a member of an organisation whose constitution, aims, objectives or pronouncements contradict the general duty to promote race equality"

Gavin, Birmingham, UK

Agree with the comments above, however, the "What goes around, comes around" rule applies here....

Neil, London,

The police also have a gay police association do you all want to join that one as well.
A police officer should not be a member of the BNP it is part of police regulations so I don't see the problem. I remember the BNP dropping their leaflets through my letter box I am white and I was offended.

DCH, nottingham , UK

Wouldn't you have to make the BNP illegal, if you want to sack people for belonging to it? I can't see how you sack someone for belonging to a legal political party.

Wilberforce, London, UK

The BNP is a legal political party. No one should be unable to join, and no one should be penalised for membership.

This leak has put ordinary people at risk of left wing thugs and politically correct employers.

David, Notts,

It sounds like thanks to all the political correctness our police force is institutionally racist for sure. They can have black only member clubs there supporting blacks only, but to do the same for whites is apparently racist?

I used to trust the police, they are now more political then civil.

Gareth, Tonbridge/UK, UK

Please think before talking. Having a racist police officer is like having a paedophile looking after children, a rapist women.
There is no place for racism and xenophobicviews in certain jobs, mainly services, ESPECIALLY public services. Please think about other human beings before commenting!

Chris, Preston, UK

The day we treat a party that wants 'rights for whites' and an 'all-white Britain' as a legitimate party is the day that the country has officially gone mad. I'm glad they have been named and shamed.

Athena Murphy, Hampstead, UK

The fact that police are supposedly banned from joining the BNP is an outrage in a democracy.
This really is becoming a 'police state' isn't it?

katherine langton, blackburn,

It doesn't come as any surprise to me that a policeman (or policewoman) should be a ember of the BNP since we know that many of them hold racist views anyway! However, I don't think they should be barred from doing so ... and I am black.

Mike, Birmingham, West Midlands

"Police are banned from becoming members of the BNP because it would damage race relations, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo)."

Such hypocrisy from the police, who are infamous for being institutionally racist.

Many other officers would be members if only they dared.

Ed, London, UK

This is insane: BNP has a right to exist, but shouldn't have a right to hide the people who are members of it. People in jobs that can be used to carry out abusive action on a belief should definitely not have that position. Personally we'd be a lot better off without this extremist stuff, end of.

Greg, London, UK

Do the Police ban officers from belonging to the Scottish National party, or the Welsh Nationalists ? No, they don't. I am not a member of the BNP nor do I support their views but this discimination against membership of the BNP is indefensible, probably illegal and damages people's human rights.

Derek, Dubai, UAE

Again, this just goes to show that we live in a fake democracy. I am no fan of the BNP, but anyone (and that includes police officers) should have the freedom to join any legitimate political party they choose. This kind of action is entirely unacceptable in a (supposed) democracy.

Philip, Newcastle,

Arthur, you can be a member of the NBPA regardless of skin colour.

James, Warwick, UK

"Jacqui Smith, ......She told Sky News: "It probably says something about the BNP that people don't want to have it known that they are a member."

It probably says something about Jacqui Smith that she would be the first to demand the sacking of a teacher, policeman etc
for being a BNP member.

John Evans, Croydon, UK

Fancy that - A policeman who is a member of the BNP - what a surprise!!

David, Bristol,

Are police recruits asked whether they belong to Jihadist organisations, or if they sympathise with their beliefs? Of course not, in Utopian multiculti Britain. But someone with patriotic beliefs is banned from joining. No wonder the British peoples' trust in the force is at its lowest level ever...

Simon Holly, London UK,

I don't believe in Democracy.If one person says 1+1 =2 and two others say 1+1 =3 then according to Democracy 1+1 does not equal 2.

Sam Brown, henley-on-thames, england

There is much about the BNP with which I have difficulties. However, if I decide to do so, I see no reason why I should not join it as a recognised British political party. I can see considerably greater logic in banning people from joining Nu-Labour because of its fomenting of class hatred.

Nicholas Lee, Windsor, UK

I do not support the BNP but I would urge people to put out aside the fact it is the BNP and look at what has actually happened.Deliberate and malicious leakages of personal data is very harmful as many victims have discovered - ordinary people with no political affiliations whatsoever. Be warned.

B Davies, Rhondda, Wales

What has happened to freedom of expression?

I can't stand the BNP but, as Thatcher once said, the best way to deal with them in in the ballot box.

Something this government appears to have a problem with, unless they can con the public one more time.

Pinkie, London, United Kingdom

Is it now also possible for an employer to fire someone who belongs to the Labour party?? Fair is fair. What happened to free speech and the right to choose ones political affiliations!
I do not in any way support the BNP but this is a frightening step in the wrong direction!

Matt , Aberdeen, UK

this is ridiculous.not even in totalitarian states you can be fired because of your political preferences

slavik, zaporozhye, ukraine

The right to support a political party is just that. The commonly held view, rightly or wrongly is that the BNP are no more interested in politics than Al Quaeda or Hamas. If they were to role up on British soil claiming they wanted to run for election, I'd support them as much as I do the BNP.

Ash, London, UK

You can't espouse racist views and be a member of the police force period. No one can stop people having racist views but a police officer is supposed to be impartial and keep the peace not agitate. This might be a BNP publicity stunt of course to make it look as though their views are endemic.

Bondy, Devon,

Strange to say that the police have a black association,and white officers are barred from that. Racist? Police are legally entitled to support any political party they wish. Just because it has not been challenged does not make it right, This country will soon need the BNP, just to save it.

David, Birmingham, UK

Black Police Authority.

Where is the WPA?

If th BNP is effectively made illegal, the BPA is suddenly illegal.

Or am I not seeing things correctly?

Simon, peterborough, England

Sheesh,

Policeman is a member of the BNP. Is there no other news?

Way back when I thought it was an entry qualification.

Tim, London,

What happened to freedom of assembly? Labour have been steadily eroding our freedom for to long. You cannot effectively ban membership from opposing political parties just because their idology is different from yours.
Also, the police is a public body, and thus party politics has no place here.

Jacques, Kent, UK

I'm not saying I support the BNP in any way, but I thought we lived in a democracy and the right to support and vote for you wish to is key and for this to be done in a private manner.

Kevin, Durham,

How can a "democracy" bar people from being menbers of a political party?

Robert Hitchcock, Redditch, England

Nobody should be punished for the political party they support. It's an even more sacred right than racial equality. Democracy relies on people being free to side with a party of their choice without consequence.

Tom, Bournemouth,

It's insane, that you can be a member of the NBPA or the MPA, which exclude people based on skin colour or religion, but you cant be a member of the BNP. Equality? I dont think so!

Arthur, Newcastle,