The council says it supports the teacher's suspension

Simon Smith, a teacher at St Peter's Roman Catholic School in Solihull, has been chosen as a candidate in the West Midlands Euro constituency.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council confirmed his suspension on Wednesday after teaching union NASUWT announced it was investigating the reports.

It said the decision had been taken to minimise disruption at the school.

The NASUWT threatened disciplinary action against any member associating the union's name with the party.

Dr Phil Edwards, national press officer for the BNP, said: "The union don't pay his wages, they don't employ him.

"Who do these people think they are. If he does his job well and is a committed teacher they shouldn't be using the power of the media to intimidate him or his employer.

"He is an exemplary teacher, he is clever, a graduate, a decent bloke and just like other people in the BNP he would not pick on anybody of another race just because of that."

The disruption to pupils' education has become far too great, especially at this time of year when many are preparing for exams Solihull Council

The BNP's website lists Mr Smith as its second candidate for the West Midlands constituency in the 10 June elections.

Deputy general secretary of the teaching union, Chris Keates, said NASUWT policy was that BNP membership was in breach of the objects of the association.

"We have a clear policy on this issue endorsed at our national conference last month," she said.

"NASUWT abhors and condemns the policies and activities of the BNP and the sooner legislation is enacted to enable us to expel from membership anyone found to be involved in BNP activities, without them being able to claim compensation, the better."

Mr Smith is believed to be a non-Catholic and is employed full-time by the school on a one year contract.

A teacher in a Catholic school must support the values and ethos of that school The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols

The schools commission for the Archdiocese of Birmingham also supported the suspension.

A spokesman for the archdiocese said: "It came as a complete shock to the school," he said.

The Archbishop of Birmingham issued a statement outlining the church's guidance on the forthcoming local and European elections on Wednesday morning.

It said Roman Catholic voters need to be confident that the candidate they vote for recognises the equal value of all people.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, said: "I would not expect anyone who did not support these values to be given a permanent position in a Catholic school.

"This is because a teacher in a Catholic school must support the values and ethos of that school."

Solihull council said Mr Smith had been suspended pending further enquiries.

In a statement it said: "It has become clear that, whatever the circumstances, the disruption to pupils' education has become far too great, especially at this time of year when many are preparing for exams.

"In these circumstances it is deemed appropriate to suspend the teacher to allow the school to return to normal."

Earlier the council had said teachers were allowed to be a member of a legal political party and stand for election as long as their views were not promoted in school.

Nobody from the school was available for comment.