Unions are out of date !

Morgan, LONDON,

A collective group decides whom is or isn't allowed to join their group. It's in the unions' interest to be as least exclusive as possible. if they exclude significant no.s of potential members they limit their representative power. Its called market forces.

Craig, Brisbane , Australia

My Oxford English Dictionary states, "extreme right-wing or intolerant views or behaviour." The word OR is relevant. This is a descriptive of fascism. Surely then, by analogy, the unions are just what they seek to ban? You can not be both tolerant and intolerant the two are mutually exclusive.

Alfie Hynes, Plymouth, England

There's great potential for mischief here. If they can't refuse you, why doesn't everyone join the BNP, vote to change its clauses to those of the ANL...

Vince Tartrazine, London, Westside,

I'm no fan of the BNP, or what they stand for but the Trade Union is often the organisation that negotiates on behalf of the employees. It is everyone's choice to join or not to join a Trade Union, but if they are going to act as the 'voice of the workforce' they must open membership to all.

Ian Bruce, Glasgow, UK

Presumably it is then acceptable for Unions to exclude Conservatives, Social Democrats, Muslims, Catholics?

John Bowman, Sarlat, France

Either way are allowed to freely associate with whom we like, regardless of the organisation and the discriminations we want, or we are not. So either unions can discriminate against racists and racists can discriminate against other races, or neither can. A principle is either right or wrong.

Rich, Middlesbrough,

So, working men's clubs - private bodies? - can exclude women, by law? Unions can have "significant inpact on the rest of us". Why would anyone - not least BNP patriots - want to belong to a union? Unions are communist backed and will destroy our society - they never oppose cheap imported labour.

Joan Walters, Exeter, uk

"Were the BNP a more serious organisation...." - pretty serious if judged by the panic of Nu Labour and the other parties, using dirty tricks to stop them!!

James Williams, Swansea, uk

So Steven Pollard defends the right of Unions to deny membership to BNP members on the grounds of freedom of association.

The Unions oppose freedom of association based on ethnicity, religion, sexuality, age etc?

This isn't freedom. It's slavery.

Tim Heydon, London, UK

If a union strikes, rubbish can lie uncollected, people can't get to work, OAPs can't pick up their pension, etc. So, yes, you could say that a union's activities have a significant impact on the rest of us. What the unions are saying is that you can join our club, but only if you're one of us.

Steve, Glasgow,

What a novel idea is proposed: Unions have an inherent right to be composed not only of racists, but also may also discriminate on the basis of colour, religion and members of the "The Red-Headed League". What a wonderful antiquarian suggestion. It has Wilburforce spinning in his grave.

Bob Evans, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Back home in Blighty

Special cases make bad laws. Freedom of association has been used far too often to exclude races, religions, and national origins. For the special privilege of a monopoly that would never be tolerated in a commercial enterprise, unions must be made to accept applicants equally.

Richard, Philadelphia, USA