In times drenched with scandalous  government expense claims, and backbenchers standing down across the land, Krissy Elliott writes, how refreshing it is to see such illustrious bodies as the Featured Artist Coalition (FAC) demanding the impossible from the party everyone loves to hate, the British National Party.

Not content to destroy the careers of so many who work so hard for democracy in this country, last week the media saw fit to seize upon the BNP and their annoying little habit of buying CD's which they then sell to patriotic supporters during election campaigns. Or, more pointedly, the media find it worth reporting that the FAC have a problem with this because it may constitute a "situation which contravenes the beliefs or morals" of  musicians who, up until now, have released their music for public consumption in order to gain financial reward

Now, I may be old fashioned in considering the sale of a product  as a matter for business discussion. Politics and music have long been uneasy bedfellows, so perhaps my emotional response is a little lacklustre. However, I am sure that unless the buyer of a box of CD's is specifically made to sign a disclaimer or similar stating that they will only sell such a CD  in the very spirit of the music's creation and no other, then that box is sold, the musician pockets their share of the spoils, and their involvement ends.

Unless the FAC really wants to support its members by sending spies out to monitor every single CD sale, or better yet, encourage members to do it themselves... excuse me, but I'm sure the musicians are meant to be making the music, not dictating to whom it is sold. Nor do they or should they have the right to veto a buyer or seller on the basis of their own beliefs.

If that choice were not, thankfully, impossible to police, then I should be somewhat wary of playing Nellie The Elephant or Mr. Blobby in fun at a 60^th birthday party. After all, if these tunes were meant for children, surely it's not cricket to use them for mirth and merriment outside that remit? Perhaps Nellie's lawyers are preparing a writ as I write. What nonsense. The aim of the game in the music industry is to tour, create fans, reach a record label, make a CD, sell it... and MAKE MONEY. Given how many lyrics seem unintelligible to my ears as I near the youthful age of two score years, I imagine that being understood or making a comprehensible statement often come in as a weak 2^nd in that race.

So the 31,000 members of the FAC do not like the idea that any of their songs may stink enough of patriotism to be worth the BNP's time or investment. Of course, I am sure every member of the organization has been asked if they agree, or indeed what their personal politics may be. There is no way the FAC can substantiate claims that the point of view held by the gentlemen who wrote to The Times last week is representative of the entire organisation's membership. Nor can they realistically expect anyone in power to even try to act on their complaint, since many who might champion the cause are currently too busy avoiding an expenses furore.

The question is not what should be done to control such ludicrous ideals as ethical point of sale in a barely uncontrollable mass market melting pot of subversive views for the most part; rather, should the media enter into this ridiculous  power play, which so obviously aims to divert the political censure of the electorate away from fraudsters and instead towards patriotic prejudice. In this matter the FAC should be standing down, and the BNP - along with any business and consumer in this green and pleasant land - on this occasion gets my vote. Just this once though.

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