Concert venue axes BNP conference

The BNP said it believed its contract had been breached

The British National Party (BNP) is considering legal action against a Manchester venue which cancelled a conference organised by the party.

The Bridgewater Hall said it had axed the event, scheduled for October, after learning it was organised by the BNP.

It said it had received an "oblique" inquiry but had not cashed any cheques.

The BNP event was to highlight racism against whites. A spokesman said it had been discriminated against and believed its contract had been breached.

'Oblique inquiry'

"They accepted the booking and we had given them a cheque with British National Party written on it," BNP spokesman Dr Phil Edwards said.

"Then we received a fax to say the booking had been cancelled."

The Bridgewater Hall, which is the home of Manchester's Halle Orchestra, said it had only learnt the event was being organised by the BNP last week and had consequently decided to cancel it.

In a statement, the venue said: "An oblique inquiry was made to The Bridgewater Hall. Once the nature of the event transpired the hall exercised its right not to proceed."