The Times is the latest of several sources to report that the BNP appears to be fighting for its financial life. Speculation increased recently after not a single donation was registered to the Electoral Commission during the relevant quarter for the European elections. Anti-BNP sources have suggested an imminent financial melt-down. What is the truth?
Certainly there are examples of financial problems. The relatively lavish European elections campaign (including road-shows and Battle of Britain parties) lead to complaints of over-spending amongst Griffin’s colleagues. The EHRC’s legal action about membership rules involves legal processes way beyond the reach of the BNP’s coffers. This summer Griffin bombarded his membership with increasingly high-pitched pleas for cash, including the desperate sale of cut-price ”life membership”.
But talk to a melt-down should be put in context. Firstly, despite its significant media footprint, the party runs off modest resources. According to their 2004-2007 submissions to the Electoral Commission (see below), the BNP seems to tick over on about £900,000 pa (a bit more in election years like 2004 and 2005), the same as a small Westminster think-tank. Significantly, deficits are recorded for three out of four years and the BNP did not submit their 2008 accounts on time, in breach of Electoral Commission rules, so more recent data is not yet available. By way of comparison, the Conservative Party turns over £20m in non-election years and is set to spend more than £25m on the General Election.
These accounts probably don’t include BNP front organisations such as its trade union (Solidarity), Christian pressure group (The Christian Council of Britain), its civil liberties group (Civil Liberty), a record label (Great White Records), and the publishing and merchandise divisions (Excalibur), all of which are largely self-financing (except for the occasional and characteristic BNP banana-skin).
Secondly, there is new money on the horizon. Money from the European Parliament will effectively double the party’s income. Brons and Griffin each have access to £446,000 per annum in salary, office and travel allowances which they have agreed to share with the party (though on what precise terms is unclear). In addition, the party can claim £170,000 per annum, making a total of £5.2m over the five years of their term. There were complaints that some of this money was slow in being paid by the EP, a contributing factor to the summer cash crisis according to Griffin’s newsletter. Nonetheless, it is likely the size and certainty of the European money will make a significant difference to the BNP’s financial position.
Yesterday the BNP denied financial problems. A spokesman said that donations needed to be registered only if they exceeded £5,000 and that most of the BNP’s funding comes from branch meetings and from a large members database where people donate £10-£20. It is true that BNP’s website spreads the reach of their fund-raising and Griffin has talked about the Obama-fication of his campaigning approach, but there is no evidence of a tsunami of small regular individual donations yet.
Certainly, in the past the NF/BNP have have been mired in financial shenanigans which have severely handicapped the parties’ effectiveness. And Nick Griffin’s personal record is blemished. He was declared bankrupt in 1994 in Welshpool with debts of £70,000.
But it is putting hope before experience to suggest the menace of popular nationalism is set to implode.
“Nick Griffin appeals for donations as BNP ‘fights for existence’” – The Times
Tags: BNP, Electoral commission, party finances
I think this country will go bust first probably under Dave having being handed a poisoned chalice from Gordon.
So Dave will have to go cap in hand to the EU & IMF.
It looks like the BNP get bang for their buck & many QUANGO’s or the EU aren’t quite as accountable & waste a lot more money which is your money that you had no choice about “donating” unlike donations to the BNP.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
any news on when we’re going to see the bnp accounts? i’m sure the many bnp supporters here should be able to tell us.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
they may have blood money but they are morally bankrupt
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sorry Adrian, I don’t know when the BNP accounts will be published.
But I am sure they will be published here as soon as they are in the public domain.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That ll be a never then!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I can’t believe that Maurice is ‘friends of Israel’,The Jews have more to worry about this country being Islamified than we do,everyone knows how the Muslims despise the Jews,at least the BNP only dislike the fact that this country is turning into an Islamic state.I would like to point out that i have great respect for the Jews,Sikhs and Hindus,they get on with their life and intergrate with our society,well Maurice,to me you are the enemy within.Jewish people need to vote BNP for their own safety in the future,i’m not racist,just a realist
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
How on Earth do the Jews put up with that crap from the palistinians they will always be under threat from the muslims and if they had their way,they would make the Germans look like Saints
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Jews need to vote for the Nazis,and the Ulster Protestants need to vote Sinn Fein
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
what a feckin maniac peggy is,and he accuses ME of being on drugs, bawbag
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wouldn’t be surprised if the BNP soon begin to get some big gifts from companies and individuals as it becomes more apparent day by day the threat the UK is under from the left and Islam.
I bet eveytime an idiot like Weyman Bennet of the UAF or Billie Bragg open their mouths its worth 10 or 20 grand to the BNP.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
jan the man/woman id rather listen to billy than that snivelling fat coward griffin
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The BNP membership freephone number is 0800 008 6191, they have to pay for you to ring them up….
D.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
lol superb the thick twats
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sam,
Funny:
You think Nick Griffen “a legally elected MEP” who has spend years fighting the PC establishment is bad yet Billie Bragg who based his career on being “anti establishment” but now has sold his soul to nulabour and the PC establishment is good.
If you had any real education you would understand how retarded your reasoning is……..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
yet again a sign of things to come from the defenders of the truth,you wont be listen to any music,unless selected by the state,jan thank you for proving my point about the followers of the british nazi party
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
dont here billy bragg singing about the tens of millions killed under communism or the stomping on human rights in china, venuzuala etc… it is far easier to mock the system that allowed him to flourish
a good entertainer though, pity about his sentiment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!,
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!,
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Very cute
))),
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sam you are confused. Its Labour who are doing all they can to stifle free speech in the UK.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
the labour party crook keith vaz mp,stated on tv,that you no longer have full freedom of speech in this country;
the 3 main parties dont want the majority of the population to know the real truth about the state of trouble in this country,the mass immigration that the labour party has carried out over the last 12 years,has destroyed any cohesion and the rise of the right,is rife,i was born at the elephant and castle and that no longer has a white majority,about 3 areas of london now have a miniority white population,white flight has taken hold,but ask the white population of kent,as the ethnic population where will you riun to next
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
jan,why do you assume im a labour voter
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perfect work!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perfect work!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perfect work!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I want to say – thank you for this!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perfect work!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] are capable of fighting the case to the ”bitter end” over fears that the party may financially implode, which we believe to be simply [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0