Spying and surveillance claims rock the BNP… er, isn’t that (allegedly) what the far right does?

According to the Guardian:

The British National Party has been engulfed by a bitter internal row with around 50 senior figures resigning the party whip amid claims the leadership has been spying on private emails and telephone calls.

Good Lord, fancy that. Sort of like a … a police state!

Nick Griffin, the leader of the far-right group, is facing widespread criticism over his handling of the situation, while police confirmed yesterday they were investigating claims that a BNP security team stole files and computer equipment from the home of a regional official.

Dear oh, dear, ‘security teams’? Allegations of theft?

The Labour MP Jon Cruddas has written to the head of the Metropolitan police, Sir Ian Blair, calling for an inquiry into what he claims are “criminal activities involving senior members” of the party.

“The BNP leadership is showing us its true colours,” said Cruddas, who is expected to raise the matter in the House of Commons today.

A party founded by John Tyndall – ‘showing its true colours’? Who would have thought it?

Simon Derby, the BNP’s national spokesman, denied the party had done anything illegal and said the equipment that was taken belonged to the party.

He said the situation had been “a bit messy” but the people involved had been plotting a coup against Griffin and needed to be challenged. A line would be drawn under the issue over the coming weeks, he said.

A coup attempt? In a party of the far-right? Who knew?

“They appear to be monitoring phone calls and emails of their members and removing computers from private households. This is not the behaviour of a normal political party and I would like to see the police investigate this.”

The B.N.P? A normal party? (allegedly) engaged in this sort of activity? With their reputation?

What were they (allegedly) thinking of?