Ex-Chairman Nick Griffin Expelled From BNP

Nick Griffin, the former chairman of the British National Party (BNP), has been expelled from its membership.

The party's Conduct Committee took the step in a letter sent to Mr Griffin on Wednesday.

In it the 55-year-old, who was given the title honorary president, is accused of trying to cause disunity among the party members.

The letter said he was "deliberately fabricating a crisis" and accused him of preparing a report "which tells lies about key part personnel and finances and approving the leak of these damaging and defamatory allegations on to the internet".

Mr Griffin is also accused of harassing members of BNP staff, bringing the party into disrepute, disobeying instructions given by chairman Adam Walker and publishing "untrue allegations" in emails giving a "false account of your bankruptcy situation".

A statement from the committee said: "This has been a difficult decision to make and not one taken lightly.

"Although we all appreciate that Nick has achieved a lot for our party in the past, we must also remember that the party is bigger than any individual.

"Nick did not adjust well to being given the honorary title of president and it soon became obvious that he was unable to work as an equal member of the team and alarmingly his behaviour became more erratic and disruptive."

Mr Griffin claimed on Twitter that he had been "expelled without trial".

In a second message, he wrote: "Only thing is that the ruling Wigton Soviet are operating outside the constitution so I shall ignore their plastic gangster games."

Mr Griffin had been chairman of the BNP for 15 years until leaving his position in July.

He lost his seat as an MEP for northwest England earlier this year and was declared bankrupt in January .