The British National Party (BNP) is no longer a registered political party in the UK, thanks to an administrative delay.

The Electoral Commission removed the controversial group from its official list today, meaning that it can no longer field candidates.

A spokesperson said the BNP had failed to confirm its registration details, which must be submitted annually for a £25 fee, according to legal requirements that bind all parties.

“Their annual confirmation of registered details was due on or before 7 January 2016,” he added.

“The Electoral Commission did not receive the notification by this date and is required by law to remove the BNP from its register of political parties in Great Britain.”

Shortly after the ruling, the party announced on social media that it would be re-registering immediately, putting the removal down to a “small clerical error”.

“Any application will be considered by the Commission in line with its usual processes,” the Commission said.

The BNP, which has seen a dramatic decline in support since the rise of Ukip and emergence of new far-right party Britain First, was still active online today.

Its Twitter account continued to send out calls for new members, attempting to draw them in using sexual assaults on women during Cologne’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Farage: We don't want BNP vote

“Coming to your town soon,” a tweet said. “Don't say we didn't warn you. Join us to help end this madness.”

The party’s website also appeared to be taking donations and membership applications, although there was no answer on its enquiries line.

Adam Walker, who replaced Nick Griffin as chairman after his predecessor was expelled in 2014, had hailed an “exciting new era” for his party.

“The BNP enjoys huge support from the British public and it’s my principal aim to convert that huge support into votes and real electoral success,” he claimed.

BNP controversies Show all 15 1 /15 BNP controversies BNP controversies December 2014: Nick Griffin's visit to Syria Former BNP leader Nick Griffin went to Syria where he visited one of the holiest mosques in the Islamic world amid comments questioning whether he is working as "an MP for president Bashar al-Assad" Twitter BNP controversies November 2014: Controversial poster George Gill did not give permission to the BNP to use his image or his quote, and had no idea he was the subject of a recruitment poster, calling it "disgusting" BNP BNP controversies November 2014: BNP calls for Remembrance Day minute silence – a day late 'Others forget but we remember', the BNP said of the traditional Remembrance Day silence on Twitter on 12 November, only they managed to forget the very date on which the First World War ended themselves BNP controversies October 2014: Nick Griffin expelled from BNP The British National Party expelled former leader Nick Griffin for allegedly “trying to cause disunity” in a bid to destabilise the organisation Getty images BNP controversies May 2014: Fight Back video BNP released the Fight Back video, featuring Jack Renshaw as the leader of the BNP youth Facebook BNP controversies May 2014: BNP Twitter gets hacked, no-one really notices Someone claiming to be affiliated with Anonymous hacked into the party's official account, and began posting messages including 'F*ck ALL govs'. It seems they weren't looking to push a particular message and didn't even really know much about the far-right party, but were instead just looking to cause trouble BNP controversies April 2014: BNP food banks 'are for indigenous Brits only' says Nick Griffin Nick Griffin tweeted: “For the avoidance of doubt, our BNP food banks are for indigenous Brits only. 'Minorities' all have their own (taxpayer-funded) charities” Getty BNP controversies BNP accused of using ‘food bank’ handouts to win support British National Party activists are going door to door with mobile food banks in a bid to win support ahead of the local and European elections. The far-right party has even produced a YouTube instruction video to teach volunteers how to build trust with voters in deprived areas by offering soup, teabags and washing powder on the doorstep BNP controversies January 2014: Nick Griffin stars in first cookery role as BNP TV chef offering ‘traditional British fare’ The BNP leader Nick Griffin appears to have made a first attempt at launching himself into a career as a TV chef, with what threatens to be the first of many cookery programmes on BNP TV. Dressed in a Help for Heroes rugby shirt and standing in his home kitchen, Mr Griffin talks the viewer through his recipe for a beef stew, in a video posted to YouTube entitled “Recipe for beating the Tory blues” YouTube BNP controversies January 2014: BNP leader Nick Griffin declared bankrupt BNP leader Nick Griffin announced his bankruptcy claiming the declaration made him happy as it freed him from "financial worries" Getty Images BNP controversies December 2013: BNP wish members a 'White Christmas' in racist looking greetings card The far-right British National Party’s (BNP) Christmas card appeared on its website, and features the sinister slogan: “Wishing you a White Christmas”. Signed from the party’s leader Nick Griffin and the BNP, a photo of a blonde-haired Caucasian girl holding a white box wrapped with a red ribbon appears on the front. The gift is tagged with a heart-shaped BNP logo. According to the BNP website, recipients included those officially signed up to the party, as well as "various people in the media, bishops and opposition politicians" British National Party BNP controversies June 2013: BNP and anti-fascists clash on the streets of London At least 58 people were arrested in London after anti-fascist demonstrators clashed with British National Party members outside the Houses of Parliament. The far-right group's march was one of around 60 planned across the country to mark the death of Drummer Lee Rigby, murdered in Woolwich Rex Features BNP controversies June 2013: Nick Griffin urges supporters to ignore police ban on planned march at scene of Drummer Lee Rigby's brutal murder The leader of the far Right British National Party Nick Griffin urged his followers to ignore a police ban on the organisation's planned march near the scene of the brutal murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich. The call comes despite police warnings that any BNP members who try to demonstrate in south east London risk arrest Getty BNP controversies November 2012: Nick Griffin makes B&B gay couple tweets Michael Black and Jonathan Morgan were told they could not stay at a guesthouse by its Christian owner, who was later prosecuted for discrimination. Following the decision to take action against the guesthouse owner, Mr Griffin had urged his Twitter followers to demonstrate outside the couple's home. As a consequence they had a police presence at their house for several days GETTY IMAGES BNP controversies July 2012: The General Synod of the Church of England clears the way for a ban on clergy membership of the BNP Members of the Church's national assembly gave final approval to legislation making it "unbecoming" or "inappropriate" conduct for clergy to be members of a political party with policies and activities declared "incompatible" with Church teaching on race equality Getty

But the party was all but wiped out in May’s general election, securing just 1,667 votes compared to more than half a million the year before.

It fielded eight candidates – half the total offered up by the Official Monster Raving Loony Party – and blamed a “constant stream of poison from the left-wing press” for plummeting support.

The BNP, whose policies take a nationalist and anti-immigration stance, has been accused of inciting racism, facism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and homophobia.