LONDON, April 8 (UPI) -- The British National Party faces a revolt over selecting the grandson of an asylum-seeker to stand for a Bradford ward in next month's local elections.
BNP hard-liners are refusing to accept the candidacy of Sharif Abdel Gawad on racial grounds, even though officials said he is a totally assimilated Greek-Armenian whose grandfather was a Christian, the Guardian newspaper reported Saturday.
Scores of party contributors have denounced Mr. Gawad's selection on online notice boards. They contend the BNP should remain an all-white party and the decision to appoint Gawad was made over the heads of rank and file members.
A BNP spokesman said those members who refused to accept Gawad have no place in the party.
In 2004 party leader Nick Griffin tired to force through a rules change allowing non-white people to join the BNP. After widespread opposition from members, leaders were forced to abandon the effort.
