In an earlier hearing on 6th Feb 2013, Griffin had been ordered to pay what amounted to nearly £120,000 in outstanding monies and costs to Gilbert Davies & Partners of Severn Street, Welshpool who had represented Griffin previously in cases including the early stages of the Equality Commission’s attempt to outlaw the party the firm were sacked by Griffin part-way through the case.
“I have been advised that I have good grounds for multiple claims against Gilbert Davies & Partners for professional negligence,” says Griffin, “and also have had an application accepted for an Oral hearing in the High Court later this month for an Appeal against the original judgement. “Under these circumstances my offer of an IVA pending the final outcome of court proceedings was very reasonable and the Insolvency Advisor acting for me yesterday was stunned by Gilbert Davies’ decision, which she volunteered may have been influenced by unseen factors as it makes no commercial sense.”
Since Griffin has no significant assets, the rejection of the IVA offer and this order means that Gilbert Davies & Partners stand no chance of recovering more than a small fraction of the amount they have claimed. The funds of the British National Party are completely unaffected by the order.
Nick Griffin at the moment continues as an MEP for the North West of England region. The BNP say that speculation as to whether the bankruptcy might prevent Mr Griffin from holding office as a Member of the European Parliament. "Such gossip is totally ill-founded". As they claim that following the "implementation of Section 266(2) of Enterprise Act 2002, bankruptcy no longer prevents one standing as a candidate or holding office as an MP or an MEP".
Unfortunately for Nick Griffin and the BNP we've checked and that is not the case. Section 266 of the Enterprise Act 2002 does disqualify people who are declared bankrupt from being an MP and Section 266(2) states "If a member of the House of Commons becomes disqualified under this section, his seat shall be vacated." Section 10(a) European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 states that "A person is disqualified for the office of MEP if— (a)he is disqualified for membership of the House of Commons"
Nick Griffin commenting said: “This order will not prevent me fighting for the interests of the British people or leading the British National Party to a fresh round of electoral victories. It’s of no political significance whatsoever. I will take whatever is thrown at me and deal with it. I champion the right of the British people to their land and I will never surrender. On a practical note, I am now much better able to advise and help the huge numbers of decent ordinary folk in my constituency who have financial difficulties of their own. I will be producing an advice booklet on dealing with debt very shortly and can speak from personal experience rather than from an ivory tower in Brussels! Voters are entitled to a genuine choice in May’s European and local elections, to support a party which opposes all immigration under all circumstances, and which offers radical, common-sense alternative policies on economics and energy."
Nick Griffin commenting said: “This order will not prevent me fighting for the interests of the British people or leading the British National Party to a fresh round of electoral victories. It’s of no political significance whatsoever. I will take whatever is thrown at me and deal with it. I champion the right of the British people to their land and I will never surrender. On a practical note, I am now much better able to advise and help the huge numbers of decent ordinary folk in my constituency who have financial difficulties of their own. I will be producing an advice booklet on dealing with debt very shortly and can speak from personal experience rather than from an ivory tower in Brussels! Voters are entitled to a genuine choice in May’s European and local elections, to support a party which opposes all immigration under all circumstances, and which offers radical, common-sense alternative policies on economics and energy."
