Nick Griffin: Outlined plans for Northern Ireland

Plans by the far-right British National Party (BNP) to contest the next local government elections in Northern Ireland have provoked outrage amongst unionist and nationalist politicians.

At least five candidates will run in the 2005 poll as part of a campaign to try to halt a mass influx of immigrants, BNP leader Nick Griffin has said.

Mr Griffin also claimed the extreme grouping had attracted "significant support" among serving police and soldiers in Northern Ireland.

One man has already been selected to represent the BNP in the north Antrim area, he said.

Mr Griffin argued that Northern Ireland could soon be "overrun" by immigrants who realised that most of the violence had ended.

Everything that a modern society should be trying to get away from they are trying to drag us back to Fred Cobain Ulster Unionist

During a visit to east Belfast on Monday, he added: "If we are around and organised it may well deter established politicians from carrying out some policy of enforced multi-culturalism.

"In the case of Northern Ireland there's a possibility of holding the line for a bit longer."

But SDLP and Ulster Unionist assembly members have said they are appalled at the BNP's plans to expand in Northern Ireland.

John Dallat, an SDLP assembly member, said: "This lot are the last thing the peace process over here needs."

Ulster Unionist MLA and Policing Board member Fred Cobain accepted anyone was entitled to stand for election.

But he added: "With the BNP's record, I would be horrified if anybody voted for them.

"Everything that a modern society should be trying to get away from, they are trying to drag us back to. The whole world could do without them, not just Northern Ireland."

The BNP denies charges of racism, but wants to throw all blacks and Asians out of Britain under what it describes as a "voluntary repatriation scheme" aimed at slashing 15m from its population.

Mr Griffin refused to put a figure on party strength in the province, but added: "We have got a great deal of sympathy among sections of the security forces."

Last month, Home Secretary David Blunkett called for membership of the BNP to automatically disqualify anyone becoming a police officer.

He told the BBC he did not have direct power but called on chief constables to come up with a plan.