New race hate laws are likely to be needed following the acquittal of BNP leader Nick Griffin, the Attorney General signalled today. Lord Goldsmith said the court result exposed a “gap” in the law that left Islam without the same protections as other faiths. British National Party leader Mr Griffin was cleared last week of stirring up racial hatred after describing Islam as a “wicked, vicious faith”.

Asked if he backed a rethink, Lord Goldsmith told BBC Radio’s Today programme: “The prosecution does show that there really is a gap in the law and we need to look to see whether the new law is actually going to fill that gap or not.” Mr Griffin’s defence was to say that he was attacking Muslims and not Asians – and so had not broken race hate laws, Lord Goldsmith pointed out.

Evening Standard, 14 November 2005