Ousted Tory 'not welcome' in UKIP

Edgar Griffin had been considering joining the UKIP

The former Conservative campaigner ousted for alleged links with the BNP has been told not to bother applying to join the UK Independence Party.

The UKIP told the BBC on Sunday that Edgar Griffin - whose son is BNP chairman Nick Griffin and wife Jean stood as a candidate at the last election - would not be welcome because of his past connections with the nationalist organisation.

He would not be acceptable with the ties and links that he has clearly got

UKIP chairman in Wales Neil Warry

Mr Griffin, 79 - an active Tory for more than 50 years - was expelled from the Conservative Party on Friday amid allegations that he had answered the telephone on behalf of the BNP.

The former deputy chairman of the Montgomeryshire Conservative Association said on Saturday that he would continue to fight his expulsion, but revealed that if he was not successful, he would be looking to join the BNP or the UKIP.

But speaking on BBC Wales's Sunday Edition, the UKIP's chairman in Wales, Neil Warry, said his party would not welcome Mr Griffin.

"He would not be acceptable with the ties and links that he has clearly got," Mr Warry said.

"We are a non-racist and non-sectarian party. We had candidates at the last general election who were from all ethnic backgrounds."

Edgar Griffin's son is BNP chairman Nick Griffin

Mr Warry said an application from Mr Griffin would be unlikely to get past the first hurdle.

"Everybody has to sign a declaration when they join the UKIP that they are not part of an extremist party, which the BNP would be considered.

"So with his background, he would not be able to sign that declaration, and therefore he would not be able to join."

On Thursday, the leadership election team of Tory leadership contender Iain Duncan Smith struck Mr Griffin off the list of vice presidents, amid tabloid claims that he had answered a BNP helpline.

Investigation call

Mr Griffin spent the day protesting his innocence but, in a series of interviews, he made inflammatory comments about asylum seekers and William Hague.

He spoke out in favour of funding voluntary repatriation for immigrants - a BNP policy.

Mr Duncan Smith was angered by the incident and urged the Welsh Conservatives to immediately investigate how Mr Griffin Snr had held office in Montgomeryshire Conservative Association.

Mr Duncan Smith - standing against Ken Clarke for the Tory leadership - accused his opponents of a "two or three day campaign of vilification and smears".

On Saturday, Mr Clarke accused the Duncan Smith camp of "losing its cool" over the row.

Earlier, Conservative vice chairman Steve Norris, a prominent supporter of Mr Clarke, said Mr Duncan Smith's "whole stance" attracted people like Mr Griffin.

He warned against the party becoming a "xenophobic, racist rump".