Tim Farron comments on the de-registration of the BNP as a political party

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has said 'hope always wins out' after news that the Electoral Commission has removed the British National Party (BNP) from its register of political parties.

The decent and fair minded British public have stood up against the BNP and all they stand for - intolerance, hatred and an organisation that worked to stoke fear wherever they could. Britain is a little better off today because of this news, but we should always be mindful that the just because the BNP have fallen off the register, they could come back. We also still have organisations like Britain First working to fan the flames of intolerance.

Today is a victory for the thousands of people and organisations like Hope Not Hate who worked to make the case for an inclusive, welcoming and outward looking nation.

* Chris White is a member of the Liberal Democrat Voice Editorial Team and is a Liberal Democrat Councillor from St Albans.

Comment - John Marriott, Lincoln, Sleaford and North Hykeha

In a true democracy we have to accept that there are people whose views run counter to the mainstream, both on the left and the right. It is surely better that they are in the open to be exposed for what they truly are.

PR can keep such organisations out, if we adopt the German 5% 'Sperrklausel', which means that a party has to poll at least 5% of the popular vote to get representation in parliament. On the other hand, if they do overcome this hurdle, surely the liberal view would be that they are entitled to the seats, assuming they are clever enough to register as a political party!