I would have thought that all political parties in the 'democratic world' should distance themselves from these sorts of people and choose their friends carefully.
In a truely democratic world you could say what you like without fear of stigmatisation or retribution.
However their are limits to what should be said. Such as incitement to harm or abuse others. You should be free to say what you like within the limits of the laws of the country you live in and accept any lawful punishment for transgressing those laws. Yes I know that's a bit of a joke in this country but hay,, we just don't do justice properly anymore.
The BNP should be given the same democratic right to say what they do as, say, hard line Muslims are.
I believe they got into power not because people believe in the way they operate or anything like that but as a show of disgust at the inability of the present government and perhaps the rest of the political parties to listen to how the average person feels.