But St Philips chambers in Birmingham, where Grierson was a door tenant may have felt uncomfortable at the thought of a barrister in heavy boots and short trousers. Or, in the words of James Burbidge QC, head of St Philips, that “his candidacy in the forthcoming election was a distraction to the proper work and approach of St Philips chambers, its members and staff”.

Grierson told the Guardian: “The BNP is a democratic political party. We have recently voted to allow in non-white members. I said [to chambers] that you should not discriminate against me and should not be removing me from chambers.

“The head of chambers said it would be much better if I resigned because the BNP is obviously a controversial issue with some people. So I took the view, out of consideration for other members of chambers and in order not to make their lives difficult, that I would resign.

“Notwithsanding that, my position is that I should not be discriminated against. I’m still a practising barrister, working out of my home address.”

Current Sutton Coldfield MP, Shadow International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell MP, told anti-BNP website, Nothing British:

“I very much doubt that the voters of Sutton Coldfield will have much truck with this racist nonsense.

Just because people have a degree and carry a briefcase doesn’t mean they’re not bigoted, extremism comes dressed in pin-striped suits as well as bovver boots

Their views are completely unacceptable and we should make sure that there is no room for them in British politics.”