BNP faces inquiry for 'illegal activity'

Allegations of "apparent illegal activity and financial irregularities" within the British National Party are being referred to the Metropolitan Police and to the Electoral Commission by a Labour MP.

Jon Cruddas used parliamentary privilege to accuse the far-right party's leadership of bugging suspected critics, money-laundering and failure to submit its accounts on time.

Mr Cruddas, the MP for Dagenham, said he had requested that police investigate the "illegal spying" claims. He also told the Commons he was sending a dossier compiled by the anti-fascist group Searchlight detailing alleged financial irregularities in the BNP to the Electoral Commission.

"This is not the behaviour of a legitimate political party," he said. "The BNP leadership, and Nick Griffin in particular, are showing us their true colours."

In a statement on its website, the BNP said there was "not a shred of truth to the pack of lies submitted by Labour MP Jon Cruddas". It said: "His baseless accusations, made behind the veil of parliamentary privilege, are clearly libellous."