The British National Party will be entitled to a party political broadcast and a free mailshot to seven million voters as it puts forward a record number of candidates in the forthcoming general election, reports the Guardian.

According to a confidential document sent to Labour MPs, the BNP will field between 100 and 120 candidates.

The memo states that senior figures within the far right organisation will target seats held by members of the shadow Cabinet, as well as focusing on its "traditional strongholds" in West Yorkshire, the North West, the Midlands and east London.

BNP leaders accept they will not win any seats, but hope the election campaign will help them increase their existing support in preparation for an "onslaught" in the 2006 local elections.

The BNP has welcomed the recent media focus on immigration, but, reports the Independent, the Tories' "lunge to the right" has left little space for the party to manoeuvre.

Meanwhile Conservative leader Michael Howard has denied claims that his father was an illegal immigrant.