Leader of far-right group Paul Golding fails to get political party status for Britain First in NI

Paul Golding challenged the Electoral Commission over its refusal to register the organisation.

His lawyers claimed it was an unlawful decision taken at a time when the group planned to field candidates in the 2019 General Election.

But a judge dismissed the case today on the basis that it had been rendered academic.

Mr Justice Scoffield said: “The fact remains there are presently no elections imminent in Northern Ireland in respect of which the applicant’s organisation wishes to field candidates.”

In September 2019 the Commission rejected Britain First’s application to register as a political party due to issues with its constitution and financial scheme.

Concerns were raised that documents submitted on behalf of the group did not reflect the reality of its procedures.

The court also heard that a policy about religious head-coverings had been classed as discriminatory.

Counsel for Mr Golding argued that denying political party status was irrational and blocked it from access to the democratic process.

He contended that a policy calling for a ban on using the term ‘racism’ had been tongue-in-cheek, and that refusing to register Britain First went against free elections and freedom of expression.

Proceedings were brought on an urgent basis amid plans by the group to campaign for the London Assembly and English local elections in May.

Delivering judgment today, Mr Justice Scoffield held that arguable points had been raised.

However, he still refused leave to seek a judicial review of the Electoral Commission’s decision.

“I do not consider this case warrants the urgency that the applicant seeks in order to speculatively,” the judge pointed out.

“The academic nature of these proceedings has not in my view been removed by the prospect of forthcoming elections in a different jurisdiction to which the application for registration did not relate.”

“In the event Britain First wishes to participate in the forthcoming elections in Great Britain, which is the basis on which the case was re-listed, it will inevitably have to make a further application to the Commission.”