Unions and the BNP

The ECHR has upheld the right of unions to exclude BNP members from their membership.

In ASLEF v UK, the ECHR held that:

• Art 11 does not impose an obligation on a union to admit those who do not share their values (para 39); and,
• the right of ASLEF to choose its members outweighed the BNP member's right to freedom of expression (para. 50).

ASLEF v UK

[Thanks to John Hendy QC and Michael Ford, who successfull represented ASLEF, for telling me about this case.]