RACIST Britain First were dealt a blow yesterday when the Royal Mail spiked their Rochester and Strood by-election leaflets because their content is illegal.

The naff-jacket-toting street gang only put up the £500 deposit to stand in the contest to benefit from the free delivery of their election address to every voter and have been out campaigning for Ukip candidate Mark Reckless.

But their bid to spread their hateful message has been scuppered by Royal Mail’s refusal to deliver them.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said the company could refuse to deliver material that is “threatening, abusive or insulting or is intended to cause distress or anxiety.”

She added: “In this instance, we consider that the election mail in question does not comply with the law and have therefore refused to carry it.”

Fascist candidate Jayda Fransen accused the recently privatised company of left-wing censorship, calling on followers to rally outside the homes of Mail directors.

But anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate spokesman Matthew Collins said it was more likely the leaflet was blocked because it was “racist or could be deemed to breach their commercial rules.”

Britain First may be given the chance to submit a new leaflet, but Mr Collins pointed out that progressive posties could still refuse to give the fascists a platform for their bile.

CWU postal union rep Phil Wright told the Star: “It will come down to the conscience of each person. If an individual didn’t want to deliver those sort of items we would support them all the way.”

lukejames@peoples-press.com