Should the BNP appear on Question Time?
Thursday 22nd October 2009, 7:03AM BST.
The fury surrounding the BBC’s decision to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin on to Question Time shows no sign of abating.
The corporation’s director general has now challenged the Government to ban the BNP from the airwaves if it felt leader Mr Griffin should not be allowed to appear on Question Time.
- Should the BBC reconsider its decision? Tell us your view in the comment box below
In a strong defence of the decision to invite the extreme-right politician on to tonight’s show, Mark Thompson said “censorship cannot be outsourced to the BBC”.
An appeal by cabinet minister Peter Hain against Mr Griffin’s appearance was thrown out yesterday by a special panel convened by the BBC Trust to discuss the controversy.
It ruled that it was “a question of editorial judgment” whether it was appropriate for the BNP to be represented on the flagship show and refused to block the move.
About 400 people including pop stars, writers and trade unionists joined a rally against the show last night ahead of further protests expected today.
Mr Thompson said the BNP’s recent electoral success, which saw Mr Griffin elected as one of two BNP MEPs, meant it was right to invite him on.
He said only a legal ban, similar to that imposed on Sinn Fein in the 1980s, would lead the BBC to consider breaching its “central principle of impartiality”.
He said: “The case against inviting the BNP to appear on Question Time is a case for censorship: The case, in other words, that (in the opinion of those who make it) the BNP’s policies are so abhorrent and so liable to sow hatred and division that they should be excluded from this form of public discourse altogether.
“Democratic societies sometimes do decide that some parties and organisations are beyond the pale. As a result, they proscribe them and/or ban them from the airwaves.”
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I find it chilling how many Shropshire citizens are supporters of this party.
Sadly it does not surprise me.
My daughter has heard and seen racist behaviour at college and my last few days with my mother back in 2000 in Shrewsbury Hospital were marred by racist comments made by a nurse who was treating my mother.
I think she knew few folk of my parents generation would find her comments offensive. I certainly did but was to stressed and pre-occupied at the time to report it.
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I am opposed to the BNP and thier views, i feel that they are racist! However; saying that we live in a democracy and therefore they have the same rights as any other political party. A democracy cannot work if we only allow the views that sit well with us and ban those we don’t. I therefore feel that Nick Griffen should be allowed on QT tonight, if only so it will hopefully backfire like it did on BNP supporter who phoned in on the subject to a local radio station earlier today!!
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Linda – I whole heartedly agree with you – The BNP must be enjoying all the publicity they are getting – They appear to be the most talked about party at the moment
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Judging by his ill-advised comments over the issue of the armed forces not wishing the BNP to besmirch their good name, he’s more than likely to make a fool of himself on the programme anyway.
I can understand the desire for a ban, but I think sometimes the best approach is to allow people to reveal themselves for the sad, isolated, scapegoating bullies that they are.
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I do not support the BNP or their vewis however:
FACT: they are a legitimate political party
FACT: They have been voted in legitimately to 2 constituencies as EU representatives
We are a democratic society and therefore must obey the rules of democracy no matter how much we disagree with them. I also applaud the BBC’s defence of its impartialty. Censoring content based on kneejerk reaction is one step away from Fox News.
They have a right to be heard- we have a right to ignore them, laugh or get angry.
Let’s be straight here- the BNP will NEVER attain a large following, Nick is no charismatic Hitler and we are not 1930s Germany.
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Of course they should be able to air their views on Question Time, because this is the best way of exposing what the BNP really stand for. I find it incredible that those who claim to be their biggest opponents (Peter Hain etc)actually do more to promote them with constant anti-democratic publicity, such as censorship. If the political parties actually did more for the British people, we could get rid of the BNP with a click of the fingers. I would like to see Question Time get rid of Dimbleby and bring in Paxman though.
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Death toll reaches million’s in illegal wars thanks to Tony Blair the country on it’s knees MPs robbing tax payers money and you have a go at the BNP wake up!!
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In principle I totally disagree with this monster having air time on Question Time but on the other hand I fail to see why he has got the limited following that he has. He is wholly inarticulate, has no aura of leadership and nothing about the man strikes me as being worth giving a passing glance to.
I agree with Peter though, he is likely to make a complete fool of himself. The other panel members though are not of the best but it should be an interesting night’s viewing.
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I believe in free speech the bnp have are a legal party they have mep’s and councillors and they will gain mps in the next election. The main party’s must take on bnp policy’s head on not dodge the issues and hope they will go away that is I am afraid not going to happen . Many British people have issues with immigration, bogus asylum seekers and others of similar ilk all these issues are not being addressed ,address them and the rise of the bnp will falter ignore them and the tinderbox areas scattered around the UK will ignite. Ban the bnp and I believe we will get serious trouble
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I agree that, whilst the BNP and their credo are utterly abhorrent, Question Time is a necessary means of Nick Griffin exposing himself for what he truly is – a hateful, racist, homophobic liar. My only concern would be if the BNP try and plant some supporters in the audience so that he doesn’t get the hard time he deserves.
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What’s the big fuss over? The BNP are a legtimate political party with the support of 1 million voters.
These people pay their tv licence fee – so why shouldn’t their political opinions be represented and voiced by Nick Griffin on QT tonight?
Linda West – I also heard the BNP support speak on Radio Shropshire’s Jim Hawkins earlier today.
I think the BNP support came across pretty well. At least he managed to keep his cool – not like Jim Hawkins who ended up swearing at him on air!
Very naughty Jim (lol)
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Like many of the other contributors to this article, I do not personally supprt the BNP and believe its ‘values’ are somewhat worrying in these times, however, as previously noted they are a legitimate legal party with 2 MEP’s and if for no other reason, the BBC is 100% correct in allowing Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time.
Censorship of this would only lower the BBC and the probably the rest of those supporting the idea, to that of some despot oppresive junta.
Remember, if you’re not interested in what Griffin has to say, modern technology gives us 100′s of other channels to watch, or even better, read a book, much more worth it !!!
The problem I feel is, that people will want to hear what Griffin has to say, not just because of the phenominal free publicity this has generated, but for the same reason the bNP are gaining support (and yes they are big style) – people in the street are sick to death of the current policies of all the mainstream parties with regard to law and ordr,immigration, extremeism, failed asylum seekers etc – maybe over-hyped press coverage is also to blame but we live in a soundbyte world; that’s what people hear, that’s what they believe.
The defeat of the BNP does not lie in throwing your teddy otu of the pram outside Broadcasting House – it lies in the Govrnment, this or the next one waking up to what really matters to the UK and not the fluffy brigade or for good or bad, they may find out very quickly that they have led the country down a path we don’t really want to go.
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Agree or disagree with them. They have achieved their objective by the amount of publicity they are currently getting.
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I remember Nick Griffin as a supermarket shelf filler in Newtown. He was an arse then and doesnt appear to have changed at all other than growing more irritating and self important1
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One small point…about the BNP Spitfire leaflet
They do realise that Spitfire (the one in the image they’re using, wearing the codes RF-D) belonged to No. 303 Squadron RAF?
As in, No. 303 *Free Polish* squadron? (Note also the Polish Szachownica chequerboard marking on the engine cowling).
Chris Woods, a brilliant Singer Songwriter, wanted to write about the Spitfires that fly over his home in Kent. When the BNP leaflet dropped on his doormat he realised the significance/irony of the Polish emblemed Spitfire pictured there. So, in the best traditions of the English Folk protest song he wrote ‘Spitfire’ and claimed it back for us all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvkK-8LBjLk&feature=related
The full story has been clipped off here but I heard Chris tell it at Shrewsbury Folk Festival in August this year a couple of weeks before this performance.
Also listen to Chris Woods sing this new song, specially recorded for & on the Folk Against Fascism website http://bit.ly/10Qsy5
There is a Folk Against Fascism movement now in the UK because the BNP have been taking and using existing recorded English Folk music without the consent of the artists involved.
http://www.folkagainstfascism.com/
Join them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114616997574
Go here for more songs & info
http://www.myspace.com/folkagainstfascism
There is a FAF YouTube TV channel where you can enjoy the inaugural concert. It’s our music and we want it back.
Horrified by the BNP follow @FolkagstFascism on twitter
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The BNP don’t deserve a voice in modern society but i agree that they should be allowed to sit on the question time bench. Lets see Nick Griffin squirm. It’ll be brilliant to watch. Don’t worry though, they will NEVER get in. Thankfully, the stupid people of this nation that seem to be voting for them are at a minimum and i’m glad to say, the majority know racism and homophobia are wrong.
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Looking at these comments, i am a little amazed. No I do not support the bnp although I do think on some issues i and many voters believe they have a point.
Bens dismiss these voters attitude is a little worrying and is the very reason bnp are growing and if N,Griffen is given a rough time tonight , shouted down , not given time to answer the questions he will with out doubt gain supporters.
What concerns me are the people jumping up and down about the bnp. What about the radical groups out and about on the streets of the uk preaching there hatred?? what about islam4uk marching in the nations capital at the end of the month . These isues need to be addressed by labour and the torys in order to stop the bnp otherwise you will be saying how come the bnp got at least 6 mp’s in the next election then they will walk the corridors of power .
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Ask yourself this question why shouldn’t they appear on Question Time?
Every press and media outlet is discussing them, should they not have a right to reply?
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By banning Nick Griffin and the BNP from voicing their policies (however abhorrent they are) would the Government and/or the BBC not then be suggesting the British Public are not intelligent enough to make their own minds up as to what views they support? Just because he has a platform does not mean anyone has to agree with him.
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I agree generally with what Andrew say’s. The BNP has risen to what it is because of policies inflicted on us by this Labour Government, the consequences of which, even now, they totally fail to address. Polls suggest that over 84% of British people have a wholly negative approach to immigration with a huge majority of those being utterly opposed to it. It is an issue that will not go away and the more the present situation persists, ie, a Home Secretary saying that he can sleep soundly with our immigration policy and he is not worried at all about it, the more the BNP will thrive.
It is not only the BNP that we should be concerned with though, it is the other groups that the BNP spawn as a consequence. The Anti Facist League is just as loathesome, just as anti democratic, just as thuggish and just as totally unnaceptable as the BNP. Both should be shunned by decent people, they both deserve each other.
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I see that the government sponsored thugs in Unite Against Fascism(sic) are working themselves up into a frenzy over all this.
If these democracy-hating neo marxists hate free speech so much – perhaps they’d be better off relocating to North Korea instead.
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You can’t ban bad news.
So, of course, Nick Griffin should speak on Question Time.
But could BNP supporters explain to us what was ‘legitimate’ about Mr Griffin’s Holocaust denial and the party’s racist agenda?
And could BNP supporters explain why they thought until recently that it was ‘legitimate’ to exclude non-white members from their party?
The BNP hate the values, which bind us together as a society; democracy, trust, openness, tolerance, and concern for others.
Margaret Hodge is therefore absolutely right to refer to this party as ‘vile’, while saying that Mr Griffin should appear.
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BNP fascists? The protesters are outside the (Government lacky’s) called the BBC are trying to stop me listening to a man WE have every right to agree with IF WE wish. Now, exactly WHO are the fascists? I want free speech regained in this country, and I dont care if Hitler himself has something to say. We deserve nothing less than FREEDOM of speech for ALL- including Nick Griffin. These ‘protesters’ are not protesting in the name of democracy.
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Does anyone else think that his hair is looking more amd more like Mr Hitler,wait for the tash.
Sad man sad party.
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HERE HERE, it is a disgrace having just watched sky 500 people must not be allowed to derail this He must be allowd to speak and the police must do the job they are paid to do and provide law and order on the streets and arrest these protesters who have threatened the police already with remember (the guy killed in another demo) arrest them . seem to be made up of students, anti bla bla bla all with axes to grind and no jobs………
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whats happened to freedom of speech?it only apleys to certain sorts of people bring on bnp
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You either have freedom of speech or you don’t.
If you don’t then God help us all.
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I agree that Nick Griffin should be heard on Question Time. l don’t support his views – however, what would happen if someone set up a “White Policeman’s Federation”? Racists?
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Being from an ethnic minority I find them disgraceful, disgusting and deplorable however banning them or curtailing free speech would itself be verging on fascism. They must be given the opportunity to speak, I can only hope however that the experienced politicians and audience can force him to demonstrate the disgusting racism of the BNP for all to see.
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I think perhaps that this is a wake up call to the present and future governments of Britain. All of you won’t be moaning when you loose your jobs to cheap labour fuelled by Eastern European immigrants and the like will you ? Think on. But, on the other hand, a return to pre world war two Nazi Germany shouldn’t be even dreamt of. Wake up you politicians of Britain. The BNP have now a huge following which stretches from young to old, FACT ! And I wonder why ? For example, politicians who believe in taking (not using) public money to pay for wigs required for fancy dress parties, is un questionable. There are lesser criminals banged up in prison. I would say that there is a storm coming to Britain. Sort it out Mr Brown before you have us back in a civil war !
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The rise of the BNP is not down to Labour or Tory directly.
People – all over Britain – are worried by the endless stream of immigrants flooding the country.
Yesterday the NNC news quoted a predicted UK population of 70m within twenty years, thats a rise of 10m. They said it would be due to immigration.
I am British and proud, not xenophobic, but genuinely worried about the future.
In a democracy the BNP have a right to speak.
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Most people on here seem to agree that racism is not acceptable in British society. However, the phrase “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is often used to illustrate how we in Britain value freedom of thought and expression. Unlike in fascist dictatorships, we are free to accept or reject ideas and I, for one, would not like to see that freedom eroded. Banning minority views from being aired on TV, radio or the press is as abhorrent as some of the ideas these people may express. Taking away our freedom to make up our own minds is a dangerous road to go down.
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The best way to expose someone like Nick Griffin is to hand him the rope in a open debate, just hope it does degrade into a slanging match because that will suit him and the BNP.
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as a british pakistani living in telford, i am in agreement with most of the people on here that say the bnp should be allowed to appear on a public platform. i always watch question time and am looking forward to watching today as much as any other week. to the person above who wrote more must be done to confront ‘islamic’ parties that march in the uk with slogans such as ‘sharia for uk’. again i agree with you, such parties and individuals are the muslim version of the bnp.
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As I write it’s about 30 minutes until the programme is broadcast. Should Nick Griffin have been allowed to appear? Absolutely, as only then will the people of this country get to see him for what he is and what he stands for. I find the BNP utterly repugnant and reprehensible but for now they are here. To legislate against them would erode fundamental democracies. To protest against them is also a democratic right and one that will only lead to arrest if it involves unlawful activities. Shouting and waving placards at a protest is not yet illegal in this country. The BNP will hopefully eradicate itself or fade away when the climate in which such groups normally thrive has passed. But we should still be alert to the potential threat to this society of political extremists of either wing. We should also become more politically aware as a population as the simplistic arguments put forward by extreme political groups will then be properly challenged. Interesting observation by Bob Allford. The BBC allow Mr Griffin to appear despite protests and pressure from ministers and yet the BBC is trying to prevent him being heard. Hmmm.
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I’m watching him now on the programme. It’s hilarious – he’s making an absolute oaf of himself. Even junior audience members are wiping the floor with him.
If anyone with an IQ of more than about 12 considers voting for him after this act of political suicide, they must want their heads examining.
He’s just been offered the floor to explain his views on the Holocaust (he referred to it previously as the Holohoax). Despite assurances that he would not be breaking the law by prviding an explanation of his views (which he said have changed), he declined. I think we can all draw our own conclusions from that.
Despite their recent concentration on Islam, it’s clear that the BNP are still anti Semitic. And we all know where that led in the past…
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I knew Nick Griffin was going to be on Question Time tonight. He has a right to speak. I didn’t watch so I didn’t have to listen. I will never listen to anything he has to say by choice. The reason he denies the Holocaust is because if people don’t believe it happened then another evil dictator may be able to slip into power..at least at the moment he is out in public.
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As my question has been ignored, could I repeat my question?
Could those who regard the BNP as a ‘legitimate’ party please explain how legitimate they find the BNP leader’s Holocaust denial, his visceral racism and his desire to exclude non-whites from his fascist, anti-democratic party?
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Huw Peach, in a modern day society where freedom of speech is “allowed” surely if your views on the holocaust is that of Griffin, then thats your right legimately, just as freedom of speech allows for muslims to call for islam4uk, thats the beauty of our country at least we are “almost” free to say what we want, long may that continue, and i will say this Griffin and his followers are Bigots, racists and would cause civil war on these shores to gain power, i read yesterday a statement ” we have the people willing and able to defend our movement” brownshirts at a guess.
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i would also like to see more legal cases against these Nazis, i think the churchill family should sue for defirmation of character and the various islamic bodies may be able to make a good case for inciting racial hatred,
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I’m not here to stick up for the BNP. Anyone with a bit of common sense will realise that my user name is miles apart from the BNP viewpoint.
However last night question time was a example of bear baiting from the junior tories and labour rites in the audience to the panel made up entirely of people with a opposite viewpoint to Nick Griffin.
I wanted to hear about the issues of the day ie Postal strike, recession, unemployment etc not rake over old ground with the BNP.
The entire panel acted like student demostrators and sadly out of this whole fiasco I can only see the BNP gaining support perhaps if sensible questions had been raised (the ones above) we would have heard the BNP lack of policy and that would have been enough to damage the BNP
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Predictably, this man made a complete fool of himself and I disagreed utterly with him having this opportunity to air his twisted views. That having been said, I thought that I was going to watch a programme with a genuine audience, spontaneous and varied questions and intelligent replies from the panel. What were we subjected to, a hand picked, deliberately hostile, mainly ethnic and gay audience with a couple of BNP supporters tucked up right at the back. Not one question related to anything other than a design to “tripping” up Griffin and the panel made complete fools of themselves. Again, quite deliberately two ethnic members, one an American and a complete clown, a Lib Dem spokesman who acted like an hysterical idiot and a Labourite who made a complete ass of himself. The BBC should have been totally ashamed of themselves and I switched off in anger and disapointment before the end as being a victime of another bout of the left wing bias of the BBC. It should have been a genuine, random audience, the questions should have been varied and relevant and the panel should not have been deliberately “engineered” to reflect strong ethnic overbalance.
He should not have been on – but seeing that he was, why was not the format of the programme like those previously. It bore no resemblance to the Questiontime that I know.
Now, you watch, next week when we get Jacqui Smith with her claim for £116,000 of expenses for a bedroom in her sisters house, we will get a tame panel, a dumbed down audience, non controversial questions and she will walk away as sweet as a nut – in other words, the BBC will run true to form in insulting the viewers.
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Hear Hear, Y Mab Darogan.
It ended up being a biology lesson in the origin of the species.
Has anyone considered having Nick Griffin’s DNA evaluated. Like for most of us it could prove to quite a surprise.
[ if sensible questions had been raised (the ones above) we would have heard the BNP lack of policy and that would have been enough to damage the BNP] Maybe the Tories, Labour and Lib Dem too!
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Thanks eva land – its fairly easy to see that the BNP have no real policies so why Griffen was notr subjected to questioning on the real issues of the day is beyond me.
I doubt he would have had any answers for how to handle the recession, unemployment, postal strikes etc.
Yet the display last night will simply have gained the BNP voters – the only thing which came over to me was a feling that Dimbledy, the panal, and the selected audiance were picking on Nick Griffen. and this is how it will come across to the uneducated majority of this country.
A shambles by the BBC to be honest
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If the Government fixed Britains main problems (crime, immigration, EU referendum etc) there would be no need for the BNP.
I support the main BNP policies – it’s up to the gov’t to get their act together or make way for someone who will.
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Philip, if Nick Griffen turned out to be say 20% African or Asian origin should we have that 20% deported, preferably including the buccal cavity? :p
Your view is too simplistic and there would be nothing to stop you voting for any other party on that argument, like the green party for example.
The difference is the moral constitution of the party you vote for. Racism, Homophobia and occasional holocaust denial are not acceptable beliefs and values for any party or any person come to that.
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I’ve got no problem with Nick Griffin appearing on Question Time, but the BBC really messed up after that. It should have been a normal Question Time with a variety of questions, unfortunately I think he’s got a point about being set up. Also the whole programme went out at 10.30pm on BBC radio, then there was a phone-in and this morning there was another long phone-in about it – all the extra coverage gave the man far too much publicity.
I quite enjoyed watching him snigger and squirm, tying himself in knots, but the BBC shot itself in the foot.
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The show was a joke and a disgrace for british democracy. The main parties had the chance to have a genuine debate and Nick Griffen and he should have had the chance to answer relevent issues of the day. I am actualy amazed at QT treatment of Griffen the BBC and the idiots on the panel have made things far wosre . And i am also amazed that they are so out of touch with the british public, look at all the forums, radio shows, they are all coming out on griffens side as Hane said they would .
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Give it a rest all of you!!!The BNP wants our country and our people to stay British.
They have my full support!!!
He was clearly set up by the BBC and now it’s pay back time.
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racisim is sadley two ways who utters the words white trash
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Could people who think the BNP is ‘just like any other political party’ comment on this extract from Question Time?
6½ minutes into the programme…
Griffin: Without a shadow of a doubt I appreciate that if you look at some of the things I am quoted as having said, in the Daily Mail and so on, I’d be a monster. They are outrageous lies.
Dimbleby: Which is the untrue quote that’s been said about you? The Holocaust denial, possibly?
Griffin: The vast majority. Far too many to go into.
Dimblemby: The Holocaust denial. Did you deny the Holocaust? Yes you did.
Griffin: I do not have a conviction for it.
Dimbleby: But you did deny it. Why are you smiling? It’s not a particularly amusing issue.
Griffin: I was very critical of the way in which the Holocaust was and is abused to prevent serious discussion of immigration.
Dimbleby: It’s just, you say you were mis-quoted… Ethnicity. ‘I want to see Britain become 99% genetically white just as she was 11 years before I was born.’ (Griffin nods to agree that this quotation is his own) On race. Mixed marriages. ‘It’s a sad day when a unique human genotype becomes extinct.’ (Griffin nods). You say you are mis-quoted and all I’m saying is that I can’t find the mis-quotations. Apparently nor can you.’
How is a party, which until last week excluded non-white members ‘just like any other party’?
How is a party, whose leader denies the Holocaust, ‘just like any other party’?
How is a party which wants an ethnically white Britain ‘just like any other party’?
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