British far-right leader declared bankrupt
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 03, 2014 2:33 PM
LONDON - British far-right leader Nick Griffin said Friday he would continue as a member of the European Parliament despite being declared bankrupt.
The British National Party leader was declared bankrupt on Thursday, according to the Insolvency Service listings.
Griffin insisted he would remain an MEP and run for re-election in May and said his bankruptcy was "of no political significance whatsoever".
The BNP took 6.3 per cent of the vote at the last European elections in 2009, winning two seats.
"Being bankrupt does NOT prevent me being or standing as an MEP. It does free me from financial worries. A good day!" Griffin wrote on Twitter.
"I am now turning the experience to the benefit of hard-up constituents by producing a booklet on dealing with debt. No surrender."
He was declared bankrupt after being ordered last February to pay nearly £120,000 ($200,000, 145,000 euros) to lawyers who represented him in legal cases, including defending the BNP, the party said.
Griffin will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy in 12 months' time.
The BNP wants to stop new immigration to the country and Britain to leave the European Union.