Whites-only party to vote on minorities

LONDON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The ultra-rightist British National Party will hold a vote on an amendment to its constitution allowing minorities to join its ranks, its leader says.

BNP leader Nick Griffin says he will tell his members at a weekend party conference the group will have to vote to accept a constitution embracing the change or be declared an illegal party by the British Human Rights Commission, the BBC reported Saturday.

Griffin said he political party has been moving toward allowing "loyal assimilated" minorities into its ranks "for years."

"We will ensure the new constitution still makes sure that the party is there primarily to represent the interests of the indigenous people of these islands who have been grotesquely discriminated against by the other parties now for decades," he told the BBC.

"But to have members of loyal assimilated minorities in this country involved in the party, as well, I'm sure will actually help."

Griffin wouldn't reveal to the BBC the exact location of the conference for fear of sparking anti-fascist protests, but the British broadcaster said protest groups have been circulating the suspected location over the Internet and indicated they were gearing up to stage demonstrations there.

The BNP has no members in the British Parliament but two members won seats in the European Parliament this year. The party also holds a few local elected positions. The party finished eighth in the 2005 U.K. general election with 0.7 percent of the popular vote, and finished fifth in the 2008 London mayoral election with 5.2 percent.