Nick Griffin made the admission as the BNP went to court to contest an injunction from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stating the party's constitution was at odds with the Race Relations Act and clause four of the equality bill.
At the central London county court Mr Griffin agreed to revise its constitution to stop discrimination on any 'protected characteristic', including race, ethnic or religious status.
John Wadham, legal director at the EHCR, said he was pleased at the outcome of the case, which gives the BNP three months to comply.
'Political parties, like any other organisation are obliged to respect the law and not discriminate against people,' he said.
“It is unfortunate that the BNP spent several months before conceding and dealing properly with our legal requirements. We will be monitoring the BNP’s compliance with this court order on membership, and its other legal obligations, including to its constituents.
The case has now been adjourned while the EHRC waits to see if Mr Griffin is able to convince the rest of his party to alter its constitution.
The commission had argued that the BNP was illegally restricting non-whites from joining the party, as defined in its constitution, which states: 'Membership of the BNP is strictly defined within the terms of, and our members also self define themselves within, the legal ambit of a defined 'racial group' this being 'indigenous caucasian' and defined 'ethnic groups' emanating from that race as specified in law in the House of Lords case of Mandla V Dowell Lee (1983).'
Mr Griffin had been building up today's case as a battle between the BNP and 'enemies [gathering to plot] our downfall'.
'They would do well to remember that for thousands of years the British people have defended these Isles, our blood and all that we love and hold dear,' he said in a message on the party's site.
After today's concession a link to a page titled 'D-Day: Help save our party' appeared to be broken.
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