§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is lawful for a political party which discriminates on racial or ethnic grounds to register under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and, if so, whether they consider that the law should be changed. [HL5302]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)While it is not unlawful for such a political party to register under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, it is unlawful to discriminate on racial grounds. The Race Relations Act 1976, as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), or ethnic or national origin. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created nine new racially aggravated offences which carry significantly higher penalties. It is also a criminal offence under the Public Order Act 1986 to use threatening, abusive or insulting language or behaviour in order to stir up racial hatred, including distributing racist leaflets. I would hope that the law was powerfully enforced against any organisation that behaved in these ways.