Former BNP leader Nick Griffin enters not guilty pleas in crown court appearance

Former BNP leader Nick Griffin enters not guilty pleas in crown court appearanceFormer BNP leader Nick Griffin, 67, has denied stirring up racial hatred with a cartoon during an appearance at Southwark Crown Court in south London today for a private prosecutionNewsAndy Lines16:41, 15 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesFormer British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin arrived for a hearing at Southwark Crown Court, south London (Image: PA)Former BNP leader Nick Griffin appeared in a London crown court today and denied stirring up racial hatred with a cartoon shared on social media.The 67-year-old, who led the BNP from 1999 to 2014, is facing a private criminal prosecution brought by activists from the Campaign Against Antisemitism.At Southwark Crown Court Griffin formally entered not guilty pleas to two charges - displaying material likely to stir up racial hatred and publishing or distributing material likely to stir up racial hatred. Mr Justice Swift adjourned the case for a trial, which is set to begin on May 11 next year.Griffin, of Welshpool, Powys, is accused over a post on the social media platform X - formerly Twitter - featuring a cartoon of a giant spider with a Star of David on its head.View 3 ImagesNick Griffin appeared at Southwark Crown Court(Image: PA)It is said he accompanied the allegedly antisemitic cartoon with a comment, in a post which was put on social media on December 6 2021. The post was "abusive or insulting", it is said, and Griffin is accused of "intending to stir up racial hatred".Griffin sat behind his barrister for the day-long court hearing, and is set to return to court for the trial.Photographers pictured him arriving early at the crown court just outside London Bridge station. He smiled and appeared relaxed as he entered the court buildings.View 3 ImagesThe hearing was at Southwark Crown Court (Image: BPM MEDIA)Last year the Mirror reported how he wants so-called British nationalists to join the Army as reserves to recei...