Pressure on Blunkett over BNP leader

Pressure intensified on David Blunkett today to take action against BNP leader Nick Griffin.

The leader of the far-Right party was filmed last night branding Islam a "vicious, wicked faith" by an undercover BBC team. The documentary showed Mr Griffin urging followers near Bradford to "kill the Islamic dragon".

The programme, The Secret Agent, recorded BNP member Steve Barkham boasting of an attack on an Asian man while another activist fantasised about shooting worshippers at a mosque.

Clearly relishing the publicity, Mr Griffin dared the Home Secretary to make him a martyr. He said: "If David Blunkett wants to put me on a show trial about whether we're entitled to warn about the dangers of Islam, I would be absolutely delighted.

"I would love to stand in open court and tell the public how we are losing the right to free speech. If that means I must go to prison, then so be it."

Asked whether he would apologise for his comments, Mr Griffin told BBC2's Newsnight: "No, because the law is an ass. A law which says that when you see a building with smoke pouring out of it, you can't shout fire, you can't give a warning, is a bad law." West Yorkshire police has said it would investigate possible offences. But it is unclear on what grounds the police or Mr Blunkett could take action. Incitement to religious hatred is not a criminal offence.

Magistrate Bary Malik, who is the president of Bradford's Muslim Association, said he was "shocked but not surprised" by the content of the programme. He added: "This programme shows the true nature of the BNP. The Home Secretary should see there's no room for a party like this."

The BNP took nearly a third of the votes in a by-election for Barking and Dagenham council last night. Its candidate was 10 per cent behind Labour's winner Donald Hemmett.

In a by-election at Rainham and Wennington in neighbouring Havering, the BNP's candidate polled 549 votes - 256 behind Labour, which pipped the Tories by 29 votes.