UK Green Party MEPs Jean Lambert and Keith Taylor have demanded the European Parliament blocks funding for the fascist BNP.

They said: “UK Green MEPs want a diverse and peaceful Europe. We stand together with MEPs from across the European Parliament in support of this initiative to make sure public money is never be used to support fascist organisations such as the BNP and their racist friends in The Alliance of European National Movements.”

In just two weeks’ time the European Parliament will be allocating money to pan-European political parties and their associated think-tanks to assist them with their work. The Alliance of European National Movements (AENM), made up of fascist and racist MEPs from the UK, France, Hungary and Bulgaria, is asking for money.

The EU’s Secretary General is recommending that they get at much as €400,000 – more than £300,000.

But parliamentary rules mean that EU funding only be given where parties observe the values of the European Union, “namely respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities”.

“The AENM is clearly in breach of these rules – and the idea that taxpayers’ cash be used to fund campaigns which make a mockery of the human rights of minorities and specific ethnic groups is abhorrent,” the MEPs added.

“That’s why we have joined together with more moderate MEPs from across the political spectrum to demand this funding is blocked and doesn’t happen.”

Nick Lowles, co-ordinator of anti-fascist organisation ‘Hope Not Hate’, which has organised the campaign, said: “‘Thanks to Green Party MEPs for supporting our campaign to prevent organised fascists and racists in the European Parliament from getting more than £300,000 in EU funding. ”

Jean and Keith have long been committed to stamping out racism and discrimination in British politics: most recently, for example, Jean was involved in two large anti-BNP demonstrations in East London.