I applied for a job today, a job in the local prison service as a part time Psychological Assistant at a young offenders institute thinking it'd compliment my studies fairly well.

I was going through the application form when I noticed a part on 'Membership declaration' stating that all employees of HM prison service were required to declare membership of any group or organisation that the prison service deems to be racist in nature or intent.

Among those listed were -

Comabt 18 (Ok, I can see their point)

and shockingly -

The British National Party.

Now, I don't know anywhere near the full facts of the BNP, but I do know that like them or loathe them they are a full British political party with all the rights therein.

Therefore to discriminate against their members is a breech of freedom of politics and freedom of belief, is it not? How is it not discrimination to refuse someone the possibility of employment based on their political views, be they racist or liberal?

Due to the fact we have some fairly ardent BNP supporters on this site I was wondering if I could get other people's views on this, maybe someone knows of other jobs that are denied to people based on political views.