Another British National Party councillor has resigned from the organisation in protest at its leader, Nick Griffin.

Deirdre Gates, who was elected as county councillor for South Oxhey last year, announced this morning that she would now sit as an “independent nationalist.”

Her resignation comes in the same week as Three Rivers District Councillor Seamus Dunne also resigned form the party in protest at Mr Griffin’s leadership.

She said: “I have resigned from the British National Party and will now serve the remainder of my term as an Independent Nationalist, not merely as an ‘independent’ “I continue to believe entirely in the aims and ideals of British nationalism.

“There has been a leadership challenge within the Party whose result, which appears to thwart the actual wishes of members, has propelled me, and also Seamus Dunne, to the actions we have taken.”