LONDON Assembly member Richard Barnbrook has been expelled from the British National Party.

LONDON Assembly member Richard Barnbrook has been expelled from the British National Party.

The former Barking and Dagenham opposition leader was sacked on Monday in a row over his decision to stand as independent at City Hall.

Mr Barnbrook, of Arden Crescent, Dagenham, had resigned his whip in August in protest at perceived party in-fighting and fears the BNP was on the verge of bankruptcy having gone �500,000 into the red. He had remained a party member.

BNP top brass indicated Mr Barnbrook had betrayed the far-right party after negotiations to make him reapply for his whip or let a BNP colleague stand in his place at the Assembly failed.

The BNP stressed Mr Barnbrook could appeal the party’s decision. He was unavailable for comment.

BNP national organiser Clive Jefferson said in a statement: “When Richard Barnbrook resigned the party whip in August it was decided to give him time to understand that such an action was disloyal and unacceptable.

“People voted for the British National Party not for Richard Barnbrook and in our opinion this makes Richard’s actions indefensible.

“Sadly we have concluded that we are left with no alternative but to expel Richard Barnbrook from membership of the British National Party.”

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