BNP leader Griffin is bankrupt

The BNP's head press officer Simon Darby reportedly said "Michael Schumacher has millions in the bank, but he'd do anything to be in Nick's (Griffin) position now" after the party's leader was declared bankrupt.

Read: Fans mark Michael Schumacher's birthday with silent vigil

The racing driver, who suffered a severe head injury while skiing off-piste in the resort of Meribel in France last Sunday, remains in an artificially-induced coma in hospital.

BNP leader Nick Griffin will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy in one year, on January 2 2015, in accordance with the Insolvency Act.

He was elected as a member of the European Parliament for the North West region of England in 2009. He has vowed to stand again in May.

The Electoral Commission said bankruptcy in itself does not bar someone from being an MEP or standing for election, but only if a bankruptcy restrictions order or debt relief restrictions order was made - which did not occur in Mr Griffin's case.

Griffin: 'Being bankrupt does not prevent me being or standing as an MEP'

The BNP leader Nick Griffin has confirmed he has been declared bankrupt, but that it does not affect his role as an MEP:

A listing at the Insolvency Service showed Mr Griffin was declared bankrupt at Welshpool and Newtown County Court yesterday.