Editing British National Party (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of the British National Party}}

=== John Tyndall's leadership (1982–1999) ===
[[File:Yorkshire NF.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Photograph of people carrying [[Union Flag]]s, demonstrating outside a factory.|A [[National Front (United Kingdom)|National Front]] march from the 1970s, the movement from which the BNP emerged by 1982]]
The British National Party (BNP){{refn|The name British National Party had been used in politics by four organisations,{{sfn|Husbands|1983|p=19}} most notably by the [[British National Party (1942)|Mosleyite party]] which became the [[English National Association]] and by [[British National Party (1960s)|a 1960s party]] initiated by [[John Bean (politician)|John Bean]], which became part of the [[National Front (United Kingdom)|National Front]]. Tyndall was a leading member of the 1960s BNP and a founder of the present party.|group=note}} was founded by the extreme-right political activist [[John Tyndall (politician)|John Tyndall]]. Tyndall had been involved in [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] groups since the late 1950s before leading the far-right [[National Front (UK)|National Front]] (NF) throughout most of the 1970s. Following an argument with senior party member [[Martin Webster]], he resigned from the NF in 1980.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1pp=21–23|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=24}} In June 1980 Tyndall established a rival, the New National Front (NNF).{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=23}} At the recommendation of [[Ray Hill (British activist)|Ray Hill]]—who was secretly an [[anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] spy seeking to sow disharmony among Britain's far-right—Tyndall decided to unite an array of extreme-right groups as a single party.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1pp=24–25|2a1=Trilling|2y=2012|2p=59}} To this end, Tyndall established a Committee for Nationalist Unity (CNU) in January 1982.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=25}} In March 1982, the CNU held a conference at the [[Charing Cross Hotel]] in London,{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=25}} at which 50 far-right activists agreed to the formation of the BNP.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=25}}

The BNP was formally launched on 7 April 1982 at a press conference in [[Victoria, London|Victoria]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=26|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=36}} Led by Tyndall, most of its early members came from the NNF, although others were defectors from the NF, [[British Movement]], [[British Democratic Party (1979)|British Democratic Party]], and [[Constitutional Movement|Nationalist Party]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1pp=25–26|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=36}} Tyndall remarked that there was "scarcely any difference [between the BNP and NF] in ideology or policy save in the minutest detail",{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=37}} and most of the BNP's leading activists had formerly been senior NF figures.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=36}} Under Tyndall's leadership the party was neo-Nazi in orientation and engaged in nostalgia for [[Nazi Germany]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=37}} It adopted the NF's tactic of holding street marches and rallies, believing that these boosted morale and attracted new recruits.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=43}} Their first march took place in London on [[St. George's Day]] 1982.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=43}} These marches often involved clashes with anti-fascist protesters and resulted in multiple arrests, helping to cement the BNP's association with political violence and older [[fascism|fascist]] groups in the public eye.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=44}} As a result, BNP organisers began to favour indoor rallies, although street marches continued to be held throughout the mid-to-late 1980s.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=44}}

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote=Through the streets now we are marching.<br />Like an army as to war.<br />For the cause of race and nation.<br />With our banners to the fore.<br />Into battle, into battle, into battle BNP!<br />Into battle BNP!|source=— BNP marching song, 1982{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=36}}}}

In its early years, the BNP's involvement in elections was "irregular and intermittent",{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=39}} and for its first two decades it faced consistent electoral failure.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}} It suffered from low finances and few personnel,{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=41}} and its leadership was aware that its electoral viability was weakened by the anti-immigration rhetoric of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=49|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=42}} In the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]] the BNP stood 54 candidates, although it only campaigned in five seats.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}} Although it was able to air its first [[party political broadcast]], it averaged a vote share of 0.06% in the seats it contested.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=31|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=41–42}}<ref name="eightthree">{{Cite news |title=1979–1983 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/programmes/2001/bnp_special/roots/1979.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322033430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/programmes/2001/bnp_special/roots/1979.stm |archive-date=22 March 2009 |series=Under the skin of the BNP}}</ref>
After the [[Representation of the People Act 1985]] raised the electoral [[Deposit (politics)|deposit]] to £500, the BNP adopted a policy of "very limited involvement" in elections.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=42}} It abstained in the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]],{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=41|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=9}} and stood only 13 candidates in the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=9}} In [[1993 Millwall by-election|a 1993 local by-election]] the BNP gained one council seat—won by [[Derek Beackon]] in the East London district of [[Millwall]]—after a campaign that played to local whites who were angry at the perceived preferential treatment received by Bangladeshi migrants in [[social housing]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gable|1y=1995|1p=263|2a1=Copsey|2y=2008|2pp=51, 62–65|3a1=Bottom|3a2=Copus|3y=2011|3p=144|4a1=Goodwin|4y=2011|4p=xii}} Following an anti-BNP campaign launched by local religious groups and the [[Anti-Nazi League]], it lost this seat during the [[1994 United Kingdom local elections|1994 local elections]].{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=66|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2pp=xii, 47|3a1=Trilling|3y=2012|3pp=29–32}} In the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], it contested 55 seats and gained an average 1.4% of the vote.{{sfnm|1a1=Sykes|1y=2005|1p=131|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=9}}<ref name="copsey73">{{harvnb|Copsey|2004|p=73}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, the paramilitary group [[Combat 18]] (C18){{refn|The "18" in its name is derived from the initials of [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=1992 - 1993 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/programmes/2001/bnp_special/roots/1992.stm |url-status=live |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626193632/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/programmes/2001/bnp_special/roots/1992.stm |archive-date=26 June 2018 |series=Under the skin of the BNP}}</ref> A and H are the first and eighth letters of the [[Latin alphabet]].|group=note}} was formed to protect BNP events from anti-fascists.{{sfnm|1a1=Gable|1y=1995|1p=262|2a1=Sykes|2y=2005|2p=132|3a1=Copsey|3y=2008|3p=66|4a1=Driver|4y=2011|4p=136}} In 1992, C18 carried out attacks on left-wing targets like an [[anarchism|anarchist]] bookshop and the headquarters of the ''[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]]''.{{sfn|Sykes|2005|p=132}} Tyndall was angered by C18's growing influence on the BNP's street activities,{{sfn|Gable|1995|p=263}} and by August 1993, C18 activists were physically clashing with other BNP members.{{sfn|Gable|1995|p=264}} In December 1993, Tyndall issued a bulletin to BNP branches declaring C18 to be a proscribed organisation, furthermore suggesting that it may have been established by agents of the state to discredit the party.{{sfnm|1a1=Gable|1y=1995|1p=267|2a1=Sykes|2y=2005|2pp=135, 136|3a1=Copsey|3y=2008|3pp=67, 68}} To counter the group's influence among militant British nationalists, he secured the American white nationalist militant [[William Luther Pierce|William Pierce]] as a guest speaker at the BNP's annual rally in November 1995.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=69}}

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote=John Tyndall was both [the BNPs] greatest asset and its greatest drawback. His persistence, rock-like reliability and leadership had kept the movement going, but with almost imperceptible growth since its 1982 foundation.|source=— Senior BNP member John Bean{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=75}} }}

In the early 1990s, a "moderniser" faction emerged within the party, favouring a more electorally palatable strategy and an emphasis on building grassroots support to win local elections.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=46}} It was impressed by the electoral gains made by a number of extreme-right parties in continental Europe — such as [[Jörg Haider]]'s [[Austrian Freedom Party]] and [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]'s [[National Front (France)|National Front]] — which had been achieved by both switching focus from [[biological racism]] to the perceived cultural incompatibility of different racial groups and by replacing anti-democratic platforms with [[populism|populist]] ones.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=70|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2pp=48–50}} 
The modernisers called for community campaigns among the white working-class populations of London's [[East End]],{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|pp=46–47}} and Northern England.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=51}} While the modernisers gained some concessions from the party's hard-liners,{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=51}} Tyndall opposed many of their ideas and sought to stem their growing influence.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=53}} In his view, "we should not be looking for ways of applying ideological cosmetic surgery to ourselves in order to make our features more appealing to the public".{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=45}}

=== Nick Griffin's leadership (1999–2014) ===
[[File:Nick griffin bnp from flickr user britishnationalism.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Nick Griffin at a BNP press conference in Manchester in 2009]]

After the BNP's poor performance at the 1997 general election, opposition to Tyndall's leadership grew.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=53}} The modernisers called the party's first leadership election, and in October 1999 Tyndall was ousted when two-thirds of those voting backed [[Nick Griffin]], who offered an improved administration, financial transparency, and greater support for local branches.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1pp=75–76, 101|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=55}} Often characterised as a political chameleon,{{sfn|Griffin|2011|p=201}} Griffin had once been considered a party hardliner before switching allegiance to the modernisers in the late 1990s. In his youth, he had been involved in the NF as well as [[Third Position]]ist groups like [[Political Soldier]] and the [[International Third Position]].{{sfnm|1a1=Griffin|1y=2011|1p=196|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=66}} Criticising his predecessors for fuelling the image of the BNP as "thugs, losers and troublemakers",{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=71}} Griffin inaugurated a period of change in the party.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|pp=55–56}}

Influenced by Le Pen's National Front in France, Griffin sought to widen the BNP's appeal to individuals who were concerned about immigration but had not previously voted for the extreme-right.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=123|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=67}} The BNP replaced Tyndall's policy of compulsory deportation of non-whites to a voluntary system whereby non-whites would be given financial incentives to emigrate.{{sfnm|1a1=Driver|1y=2011|1p=142|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=68}} It downplayed [[biological racism]] and stressed the cultural incompatibility of different racial groups.{{sfnm|1a1=Driver|1y=2011|1p=142|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=68}} This emphasis on culture allowed it to foreground [[Islamophobia]]; following the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, it launched a "Campaign Against Islam".{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=68}} It stressed the claim that the BNP was "''not'' a racist party" but an "organised response to [[anti-white racism]]".{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=103}} At the same time Griffin sought to reassure the party's base that these reforms were based on pragmatism and not a change in principle.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=102|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=68}}

Griffin also sought to shed the BNP's image as a [[single-issue party]],{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=67}} by embracing a diverse array of social and economic issues.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=70}} Griffin renamed the party's monthly newspaper from ''British Nationalist'' to ''The Voice of Freedom'', and established a new journal, ''Identity''.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=114}} The party developed community-based campaigns,{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=67}} through which it targeted local issues,{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=70}} particularly in those areas with large numbers of skilled white working-class people who were disaffected with the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] government.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=73}} For instance, in [[Burnley]] it campaigned for lower speed limits on housing estates and against the closure of a local swimming bath, while in South Birmingham it targeted pensioners' concerns about youth gangs.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=74}} In 2006, the party urged its activists to carry out local activities like cleaning up children's play areas and removing [[graffiti]] while wearing high-vis jackets emblazoned with the party logo.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1y=2011|1p=74|2a1=Trilling|2y=2012|2p=134}}

Griffin believed that [[Peak Oil]] and a growth in Third World migrants arriving in Britain would result in a BNP government coming to power by 2040.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=170}} 
The close of the twentieth century produced more favourable conditions for the extreme-right in Britain as a result of increased public concerns about immigration and established Muslim communities coupled with growing dissatisfaction with the established mainstream parties.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|pp=9–10}} In turn, the BNP gained rapidly growing levels of support over the coming years.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=10}} In July 2000, it came second in the [[Bexley London Borough Council elections#1998–2002|council elections for the North End of the London Borough of Bexley]], its best result since 1993.{{sfnm|1a1=Sykes|1y=2005|1p=139|2a1=Trilling|2y=2012|2pp=95–96}} At the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]] it gained 16% of the vote in one constituency and over 10% in two others.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=10}} In the [[2002 United Kingdom local elections|2002 local elections]] the BNP gained four councillors, three of whom were in Burnley,{{sfnm|1a1=Sykes|1y=2005|1p=138|2a1=Copsey|2y=2008|2p=144|3a1=Goodwin|3y=2011|3p=11}} where it had capitalised on white anger surrounding the disproportionately high levels of funding being directed to the Asian-dominated Daneshouse ward.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|pp=133–134}} This breakthrough generated public anxieties about the party, with a poll finding that six in ten supported a ban on it.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=142|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=11}} In the [[2003 United Kingdom local elections|2003 local elections]], the BNP gained 13 additional councillors, including seven more in Burnley; the party received over 100,000 votes in this election.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1pp=124, 145|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=11|3a1=Trilling|3y=2012|3p=118}} Concerned that much of its potential vote was going to the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), in 2003 the BNP offered UKIP an electoral pact but was rebuffed.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=154}} Griffin then accused UKIP of being a Labour Party scheme to steal the BNP's votes.{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=155}} It invested much in the campaign for the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliament election]], at which it received 800,000 votes but failed to secure a parliamentary seat.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=150|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2pp=12–13}} In the [[2004 United Kingdom local elections|2004 local elections]], it secured four more seats, including three in [[Epping, Essex|Epping]].{{sfn|Copsey|2008|p=154}}

[[File:Protesters gathering at the BBC TV Centre 2009-10-22.jpg|thumb|Anti-fascist protestors demonstrating against [[Question Time British National Party controversy|Griffin's appearance]] on ''[[Question Time]]'' in 2009]]
For the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], the BNP expanded its number of candidates to 119 and targeted specific regions. Its average vote in the areas it contested rose to 4.3%.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=11}} It gained significantly more support in three seats, achieving 10% in [[Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)|Burnley]], 13% in [[Dewsbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Dewsbury]], and 17% in [[Barking (UK Parliament constituency)|Barking]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=11}} In the [[2006 United Kingdom local elections|2006 local elections]] the party gained 220,000 votes, with 33 additional councillors, having averaged a vote share of 18% in the areas it contested.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2008|1p=167|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=12}} In Barking and Dagenham, it saw 12 of its 13 candidates elected to the council.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=2}} At the [[2008 London Assembly election]], the BNP gained 130,000 votes, reaching the 5% mark and thus gaining an Assembly seat.{{sfnm|1a1=Woodbridge|1y=2010|1p=44|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=12}} At the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009 European Parliament election]], the party gained almost 1 million votes, with two of its candidates, Nick Griffin and [[Andrew Brons]], being elected as Members of the European Parliament for [[North West England (European Parliament constituency)|North West England]] and [[Yorkshire and the Humber (European Parliament constituency)|Yorkshire and the Humber]] respectively.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2011|1p=1|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=13|3a1=Trilling|3y=2012|3p=152}} That election also saw extreme-right parties winning seats for various other EU member-states.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=13}} This victory marked a major watershed for the party.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=13}} Amid [[Question Time British National Party controversy|significant public controversy]], Griffin was invited to appear on the [[BBC]] show ''[[Question Time]]'' in October 2009, the first time that the BNP had been invited to share a national television platform with mainstream panellists. Griffin's performance was however widely regarded as poor.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2011|1p=4|2a1=Copsey|2a2=Macklin|2y=2011|2pp=86–89|3a1=Goodwin|3y=2011|3p=13|4a1=Trilling|4y=2012|4pp=168–169}}

Despite its success, there was dissent in the party. In 2007 a group of senior members known as the "December rebels" challenged Griffin, calling for internal party democracy and financial transparency, but were expelled.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=93}} In 2008, a group of BNP activists in [[Bradford]] split to form the Democratic Nationalists.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=80}} In November 2008, the BNP membership list was posted to WikiLeaks, after appearing briefly on a weblog.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=21 March 2009 |title='BNP membership' officer sacked |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7956824.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326060319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7956824.stm |archive-date=26 March 2009}}</ref> A year later, in October 2009, another list of BNP members was leaked.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Booth |first=Robert |date=20 October 2009 |title=BNP membership list leaked |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/20/bnp-membership-list-wikileaks |url-status=live |access-date=20 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130044736/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/20/bnp-membership-list-wikileaks |archive-date=30 January 2013}}</ref>
[[File:2010 UK general election, British National Party vote share.svg|thumb|British National Party (BNP) vote share in the 2010 UK general election.]]
Eddy Butler then led a challenge to Griffin's leadership, alleging financial corruption, but he had insufficient support.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=94}} The rebels who supported him split into two groups: one section remained as the internal Reform Group, the other left the BNP to form the [[British Freedom Party]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=94}}
By 2010, there was discontent among the party's grassroots, a result of the change to its white-only membership policy and rumours of financial corruption among its leadership.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|pp=13–14}} Some defected to the National Front or left to form parties like the [[Britannica Party]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2014|p=901}} [[Anti-fascism|Anti-fascist]] groups like [[Hope not Hate]] had campaigned extensively in Barking to stop the area's locals voting for the BNP.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=14}} At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], the BNP had hoped to make a breakthrough by gaining a seat in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], although it failed to achieve this.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|pp=2–3}} It nevertheless gained the fifth largest national vote share, with 1.9% of the vote, representing the most successful electoral performance for an extreme-right party in UK history.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1y=2011|1p=14|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=887}} In the [[2010 United Kingdom local elections|2010 local elections]], it lost all of its councillors in Barking and Dagenham.{{sfnm|1a1=Copsey|1y=2011|1p=3|2a1=Goodwin|2y=2011|2p=3}} Nationally, the party's number of councillors dropped from over fifty to 28.{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=3}} Griffin described the results as "disastrous".{{sfn|Goodwin|2011|p=3}}

=== Decline (2014–present) ===
In a [[2011 British National Party leadership election|2011 leadership election]], Griffin secured a narrow victory, beating Brons by nine votes of a total of 2,316 votes cast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tingle |first=Len |date=27 July 2011 |title=BNP – the disastrous war of the roses |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14308103 |url-status=live |access-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130054411/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14308103 |archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> In October 2012, Brons left the party, leaving Griffin as its sole MEP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=16 October 2012 |title=BNP divisions exposed as Andrew Brons resigns |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/oct/16/bnp-andrew-brons-resigns-mep |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402213707/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/oct/16/bnp-andrew-brons-resigns-mep |archive-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> In the [[2012 United Kingdom local elections|2012 local elections]], the party lost all of its seats and saw its vote share fall dramatically; whereas it gained over 240,000 votes in 2008, this had fallen to under 26,000 by 2012.{{sfn|Goodwin|2014|p=135}} Commenting on the result, the political scientist [[Matthew Goodwin]] noted: "Put simply, the BNP's electoral challenge is over."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodwin |first=Matthew |date=4 May 2012 |title=The BNP is finished as an electoral force |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/04/bnp-local-elections-electoral-force-finished |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519032306/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/04/bnp-local-elections-electoral-force-finished |archive-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> In the [[2012 London mayoral election]], the BNP candidate came seventh, with 1.3% of first-preference votes, its poorest showing in the London mayoral contest.{{sfn|Goodwin|2014|p=890}} The 2012 election results established that the BNP's steady growth had ended.{{sfn|Goodwin|2014|p=891}} In the [[2013 United Kingdom local elections|2013 local elections]], the BNP fielded 99 candidates but failed to win any council seats, leaving it with only two.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2014 |title=BNP calls on members to breed more after elections disaster |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/04/bnp-members-breed-elections |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518200907/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/04/bnp-members-breed-elections |archive-date=18 May 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

In June 2013, Griffin visited Syria along with members of Hungarian far-right party [[Jobbik]] to meet with government officials, including the Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly, [[Mohammad Jihad al-Laham]], and the Prime Minister [[Wael Nader al-Halqi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2013 |title=Syria: BNP leader Griffin says opposition dominated by 'jihadi terrorists' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22860844 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927113305/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22860844 |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What is BNP leader Nick Griffin doing in Syria? |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/what-is-bnp-leader-nick-griffin-doing-in-syria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509155522/http://www.channel4.com/news/what-is-bnp-leader-nick-griffin-doing-in-syria |archive-date=9 May 2014 |website=Channel 4 News|date=11 June 2013 }}</ref> Griffin claims he was influential in the speaker of Syria's Parliament writing an open letter to British MPs urging them to "turn Great Britain from the warpath" by not intervening in the [[Syrian Civil War|Syrian conflict]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Brian |date=4 September 2013 |title=BNP's Nick Griffin claims he 'influenced' Syria vote |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23942041 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009042432/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23942041 |archive-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> Griffin lost his European Parliament seat in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|May 2014 European election]]. The party blamed the [[UK Independence Party]] for its decline, accusing the latter of stealing BNP policies and slogans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pitel |first=Laura |date=28 February 2014 |title=Angry BNP accuse UKIP of stealing Love Britain slogan |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/angry-bnp-accuse-ukip-of-stealing-love-britain-slogan-cf2vz3zqnb0 |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> In July 2014, Griffin resigned and was succeeded by [[Adam Walker (British politician)|Adam Walker]] as acting chairman.<ref name="Walker">{{Cite news |date=21 July 2014 |title=Teacher banned for life appointed to replace Nick Griffin as BNP leader |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/21/banned-teacher-adam-walker-british-national-party-leader-nick-griffin-vote-collapses |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802184146/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/21/banned-teacher-adam-walker-british-national-party-leader-nick-griffin-vote-collapses |archive-date=2 August 2016}}<br />{{Cite web |date=21 July 2014 |title=Nick Griffin deposed for banned schoolteacher as BNP founders |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nick-griffin-deposed-for-banned-schoolteacher-as-bnp-founders-9619893.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020206/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nick-griffin-deposed-for-banned-schoolteacher-as-bnp-founders-9619893.html |archive-date=25 August 2017 |website=The Independent}}</ref> In October, Griffin was expelled from the party for "trying to cause disunity [in the party] by deliberately fabricating a state of crisis".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blundy |first=Rachel |date=1 October 2014 |title=BNP expels former leader Nick Griffin |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/bnp-expels-former-leader-nick-griffin-9768551.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519032428/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/bnp-expels-former-leader-nick-griffin-9768551.html |archive-date=19 May 2018 |access-date=3 April 2018 |work=Evening Standard|location=London}}</ref>

In January 2015, membership of the party numbered 500,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Nigel |date=14 January 2015 |title=Green parties membership 'will overtake Ukip within a week', new research predicts |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-party-membership-will-overtake-ukip-within-a-week-new-research-predicts-9977866.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115011229/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-party-membership-will-overtake-ukip-within-a-week-new-research-predicts-9977866.html |archive-date=15 January 2015}}</ref> down from 4,220 in December 2013.<ref name="British National Party page 11">British National Party ''Statement of Accounts Year Ended 31 December 2013'', page 11. Filed with the Electoral Commission (Ref No. ST0009748) on 7 July 2014. Accessed 3 October 2014.</ref> At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|general election in 2015]], the BNP fielded eight candidates, down from 338 in 2010. The party's vote share declined 99.7% from its 2010 result.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |date=8 May 2015 |title=BNP sees 99.7% drop in votes in 2015 general election, party all but wiped out |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-sees-997-drop-in-votes-party-all-but-wiped-out-10235624.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155157/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-sees-997-drop-in-votes-party-all-but-wiped-out-10235624.html |archive-date=23 January 2016 |access-date=30 December 2015 |website=The Independent}}</ref> In January 2016, the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] de-registered the BNP for failing to pay its annual registration fee of £25. At this time, it was estimated that BNP assets totalled less than £50,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 2016 |title=BNP stripped of official status as a political party by the Electoral Commission |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/bnp/12089676/BNP-stripped-of-official-status-as-a-political-party-by-the-Electoral-Commission.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518205353/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/bnp/12089676/BNP-stripped-of-official-status-as-a-political-party-by-the-Electoral-Commission.html |archive-date=18 May 2018}}<br />- {{Cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=8 January 2016 |title=British National Party removed from official register of UK political parties for failing to submit form |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-national-party-removed-from-official-register-of-uk-political-parties-for-failing-to-submit-a6802621.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109024524/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-national-party-removed-from-official-register-of-uk-political-parties-for-failing-to-submit-a6802621.html |archive-date=9 January 2016}}</ref> According to the commission, "BNP candidates cannot, at present, use the party's name, descriptions or emblems on the ballot paper at elections."<ref name="electoralcommission">{{Cite web |title=Electoral Commission statement on removal of British National Party from register of political parties |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/electoral-commission-statement-on-removal-of-british-national-party-from-register-of-political-parties |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111073617/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/electoral-commission-statement-on-removal-of-british-national-party-from-register-of-political-parties |archive-date=11 January 2016 |access-date=8 January 2016 |website=electoralcommission.org.uk |publisher=The Electoral Commission}}</ref> A month later, the party was re-registered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Paul |date=12 February 2016 |title=BNP 'back from dead' after re-registering with Electoral Commission |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/british-national-party-back-dead-after-re-registering-electoral-commission-1543515 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408053640/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/british-national-party-back-dead-after-re-registering-electoral-commission-1543515 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |access-date=30 March 2016 |website=IB Times}}<br />- {{Cite web |last=Allegretti |first=Aubrey |date=27 January 2016 |title=BNP Re-Registers As Political Party – With Pledge To Fight 'Unstainable Housing' |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/27/bnp-political-party-uk-political-register-re-register_n_9086228.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306001744/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/27/bnp-political-party-uk-political-register-re-register_n_9086228.html |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=30 March 2016 |website=Huffington Post UK}}</ref> There were ten BNP candidates at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|general election in 2017]].<ref>Democracy Club, "[https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/election/parl.2017-06-08/party/party:3960/british-national-party British National Party candidates in the 2017 General Election]"</ref> At the [[2018 United Kingdom local elections|2018 local elections]], the party's last remaining councillor—[[Brian Parker (politician)|Brian Parker]] of [[Borough of Pendle|Pendle]]—decided not to stand for re-election, leaving the party without representation at any level of UK government.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=2 May 2018 |title=As the BNP vanishes, do the forces that built it remain? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/02/bnps-last-district-councillor-bows-out-but-insists-party-will-rise-again |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508040419/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/02/bnps-last-district-councillor-bows-out-but-insists-party-will-rise-again |archive-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> The BNP fielded only one candidate, David Furness, at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] in [[Hornchurch and Upminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Hornchurch and Upminster]], where he came last.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Known candidates for each ballot in the UK Parliament elections |url=https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |website=candidates.democracyclub.org.uk |access-date=17 November 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031123547/https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The BNP has been essentially inactive since 2019, and has not put forward a single candidate in any elections since 2019, with the only evidence of any activity being the occasional post on its website or Twitter account.