BBC News Online: UK: Wales

Party backs Griffin Tory expulsion

Edgar Griffin now wants to join another political party

Officials from the local party met on Monday morning to discuss the discovery of links to the BNP which led to Mr Griffin's expulsion last week.

The local party has now confirmed Mr Griffin, 79, is no longer an officer or association member in Montgomeryshire.

In a statement, they said they were previously aware of his relation to the BNP leader and had informed Welsh Conservative Party headquarters in Cardiff.

Racism 'condemned'

But the local party did not know that his home in Welshpool was used as the BNP base or that his wife was a member of the party.

Mrs Griffin had stood against Iain Duncan Smith at the last general election, but the Tory hopeful retained his seat in Chingford and Woodford Green.

The statement from Montgomeryshire Conservative Association added: "On no occasion had Mr Griffin made any racist views known to the party until his comments last week.

"The Montgomeryshire Association condemns racism and is open to everyone who supports Conservative principles, whatever their colour, background, class or lifestyle."

Mr Griffin, a Tory member since 1948 and former deputy chairman of the local association, was found to have answered the telephone at his home on behalf of the BNP for his wife.

He claimed he had never worked for them but said he sympathised with some of the party's policies.

Iain Duncan Smith, who is fighting Ken Clarke to lead the Conservatives, distanced himself from him immediately last Thursday.

'Storm in a teacup'

Mr Griffin said he was "flabbergasted" at his ensuing expulsion and said it was "a storm in a teacup."

He had said he would only accept the decision if it was ratified by party members in Montgomeryshire and that he would seek to appeal.

UKIP chairman in Wales Neil Warry told BBC Radio Wales: "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.

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