BNP leader Nick Griffin furious as palace invite is withdrawn

BNP leader Nick Griffin was barred from a Buckingham Palace garden party at the 11th hour yesterday after he was accused of using the invitation for political ends.

Buckingham Palace denied him entry to the social event, which is hosted by the Queen, following an interview with GMTV yesterday morning and after he posted a message on the BNP website asking supporters for questions to ask the monarch.

The Palace said Mr Griffin's use of the invitation for "party political purposes" had increased the security risk as well as the possible "discomfort" of other guests.

But the defiant far-right politician branded the decision "an outrage" and "thoroughly anti-British".

Unite Against Fascism said it was a "fantastic decision".

In a statement, the Palace said: "Nick Griffin MEP will be denied entry to today's garden party at Buckingham Palace due to the fact he has overtly used his personal invitation for party political purposes through the media.

"This, in turn, has increased the security threat and the potential discomfort to the many other guests also attending."

The statement added: "Mr Griffin's personal invitation was issued to him as an elected member of the European Parliament.

"The decision to deny him entry is not intended to show any disrespect to the democratic process by which the invitation was issued.

"However, we would apply the same rules to anyone who would try to blatantly politicise their attendance in this way."

A Buckingham Palace spokes-man said later that BNP MEP Andrew Brons's invitation to the garden party had not been revoked as he had not "exploited" it for political ends.

But Mr Griffin's guests - thought to be his wife and children - could not attend as he had been barred.

The BNP leader said: "This is quite amazing news. At no time was I informed that I wasn't allowed to talk to the media about this. Other people have talked about attending. Why a double standard here?

"To say that one person in the country cannot speak to the media is an outrage."

Asked if he still intended to go to the palace, Mr Griffin initially said: "I don't know."

But he then added: "I'm not about to try and gatecrash the party, that is for sure."

Mr Griffin said he did not blame the Queen and claimed Buckin-gham Palace was under "enormous pressure from the Lib Con coalition" to withdraw his invite.

He maintained he had a mandate from a million British people and had a right to attend.

The BNP leader added: "I am held to a different standard to everyone else in the country - that is thoroughly anti-British."

A Unite Against Fascism spokes-man said they were delighted by the move announced by the Palace.

He said: "I think this is a fantastic decision that's been taken. The invitation in the first place was a blow for those who suffered in the Holocaust and, more recently, those who have suffered at the hands of racists and homophobes.

"The fact he was invited anyway is a little bit concerning. The Palace needs to understand and the establishment in general, who are giving these privileges, that the whole point of him being so excited about going is because it gives him the chance to legitimise himself."