The editor of the Leicester Mercury has denied a claim of censorship from fledgling political party Veritas.

Party candidates failed to sign up to a city-wide partnership document backed by the Commission for Racial Equality - which seeks candidates’ support against racism and included a paragraph on multiculturalism.

The party claims they were asked to sign the document to be offered equal and fair coverage.

But editor Nick Carter denies this was the case, and said the party would get the same basic coverage as any other fringe group, although because of the decision not to sign they would not get any extra coverage.

He said: "We decided as a newspaper that candidates who did not sign would get coverage in the constituency profiles but nothing extra.

"No one was coerced by promises of coverage and we announced the decision after they decided not to sign."

The profile gives space for a photograph, biography and personal statement.

Nick said the majority of candidates had no problems getting involved in signing up, with so far everyone but the BNP, Veritas and two UKIP candidates signing.

He said: "We are not denying them all coverage. We are under no legal obligation to give coverage to anyone.

"Newspapers are not legally obliged to do anything at all to do with politics.

"We live in a multicultural society and can't understand why any candidates who want to stand would wish to dismantle that."

A statement from Veritas claimed: "In a blatant example of political censorship, the Leicester Mercury has denied coverage to Veritas candidates because the editor dislikes our views.

"There was one sentence [in the declaration] that they could not sign up to – this was a sentence that committed them to actively promote the philosophy of multiculturalism.

"Robert Kilroy-Silk has made clear many times that Veritas wants to see a country that is multi-colour, multi-faith and multi-creed, but with one culture – British culture."

All candidates in the General Election were invited to sign the Leicester and Leicestershire Multicultural Advice Group document to endorse the fight against racism and to promise not to use racist language and cause tension. The group comprises faith groups, local authorities, the police and media, as well as the CRE.

The document it produced was signed by local by-election candidates last year.