BNP 'offering alternative' vote in UK election

The BNP's Gary Raikes said voters were fed up of a soft touch justice system

The British National Party has been campaigning for Scottish votes in the UK election, offering what it sees as an "alternative" to the main parties.

The party said Britain could save billions of pounds by withdrawing from the European Union and bringing an end to foreign aid.

BNP Scottish leader Gary Raikes also said voters were fed up of a "soft touch" justice system.

And he said everyone should have the right to discriminate.

BNP policies include deporting from the UK non-British people who commit crimes, offering grants to those of foreign descent to leave the UK permanently and stopping all new immigration apart from in "exceptional cases".

Mr Raikes, said: "The BNP are offering a real alternative - the old parties have moved into the centre ground and there's hardly a cigarette paper between their policies."

On the party's policies, he added: "We are certainly not racist in any way - we now have black and ethnic minority members."

"We are not homophobic - we have no issues with homosexuality at all.

But referring to comments by BNP leader Nick Griffin, Mr Raikes added: "Everybody should have the right to discriminate - it shouldn't be against the law."