Deputy BNP leader defends taxpayer-funded role at London's City Hall » Local Government » 24dash.com

The deputy leader of the British National Party denied using his taxpayer-funded position at the Greater London Authority to perform work for the far-right party.

Simon Darby is employed at City Hall as a part-time personal assistant to Richard Barnbrook, who became the first BNP representative to be elected to the London Assembly in May and is also the party's mayoral candidate.

But Mr Darby insisted his other role as the BNP's media spokesman did not interfere with his publicly-funded job.

He said: "I do work part-time for the GLA and I have to put in 22.5 hours a week.

"I am not circumscribed by political restrictions."

He was speaking the day after a list of apparent BNP members was leaked on the internet.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said forces across the country were examining the list looking for serving officers.

The case of PC Steve Bettley, a Merseyside officer named on the list, is being investigated because being a member of the far-right party is banned by police.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said: "We understand that forces are looking at the list to ascertain if there are any serving officers on there."

Mr Bettley was included on the list of thousands of BNP supporters which was leaked on an internet blog.

His name was part of the main entry of a family member.

Merseyside police confirmed yesterday it was investigating whether he has links with the party.

A spokesman said: "We understand that the BNP names a Steve Bettley for an alleged association with the party.

"Whether Merseyside Pc Steve Bettley was, or is, a member of BNP is subject to an ongoing inquiry.

"Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe has reiterated our position that membership of the British National Party is totally incompatible with the duties and values of Merseyside Police. We will not accept a police officer or police staff being a member of BNP."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) received a voluntary referral yesterday from Merseyside Police but will not be involved in the investigation.

Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the North West, said: "I have every confidence that Merseyside Police will investigate this matter thoroughly. The national policies are clear that membership of the BNP is incompatible with the requirements of the role of a police officer and I know Merseyside Police will act robustly if necessary."

Officers are banned from joining or promoting the BNP because it would damage race relations, according to ACPO.

Nick Griffin, the leader of the far-right BNP, said yesterday the party would take court action after the leaking of the list.

It included contact details of some 10,000 individuals and in some cases their professions, qualifications and hobbies.

Earlier this year the BNP said it had obtained an injunction at the High Court in Manchester banning any publication of the list.