BNP leader may appear on Question Time

September 06, 2009

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BRITISH National Party leader and North West MEP Nick Griffin may be asked to appear on Question Time, the BBC says.

A spokesman for the broadcaster said it was bound by rules to treat all political parties with "due impartiality".

Mr Griffin, who has denied the Holocaust and who has a criminal conviction for publishing material likely to incite racial hatred, was one of two BNP candidates elected to the European Parliament in June. Neither MEP has appeared on the political debate show before.

The BBC said it was talking to other parties about the move, some of whom had previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race.

Other smaller parties elected to the European Parliament, such as the Green Party and Ukip, have been on Question Time.

A spokesman for the broadcaster said: "The BBC is obliged to treat all political parties registered with the Electoral Commission and operating within the law with due impartiality."

"Due impartiality is achieved both by ensuring appropriate scrutiny for each party and by the appearances of a range of politicians across a series of programmes.

"Our audiences - and the electorate - will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians."

The Observer newspaper claimed the BBC had "forced" the Labour Party to consider its policy of not sharing the same platform with the BNP.

The paper said a number of senior Labour figures, including Home Secretary Alan Johnson, had been approached by Question Time and that the party was now reviewing its position.

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Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall (06/09/2009 at 18:44)

Why should they have anybody on question time? They don't have a single MP. On the other hand Respect have an MP, so do a couple of Independents but they are hardly regulars. And as business is regularly represented without being elected, who speaks for the worker (not linked to the right wing new-labour)

Traffic Jam, Tameside (06/09/2009 at 18:57)

They're hardly the only hatemongers that show features.

Another_Anon, Mcr, UK (07/09/2009 at 03:03)

No comments as yet?

And we're the city bending over backwards to show that we can host the World Cup!

Tezza, Tyldesley (07/09/2009 at 08:44)

Well all political parties must be given the opportunity

Ron, Gorton (07/09/2009 at 09:08)

You may or may not agree with them but we shouldn't ban political party's from airing their views.

Everybody is entitled to an opinion and who is to say that only party's A, B or C can have the right to air the ir views whilst X,Y,Z are banned?

This is the UK, not Zimbabwe.

I don't know what we are scared of. Are people afriad that all of the voting population will tune in, love what he has to say and vote for them? Unlikely.

It seems to be OK to have these far left think tanks on but you dare go towards the right and then people want censorship. Not healthy.

Billy the Fish! (07/09/2009 at 09:22)

Crumpsall-Lass, They have others on Question Time that are not MP's.

I totally disagree with them and find thier policies abhorant, however, they are a legit political party and should be allowed to participate.

After all, they let enough 'swivel-eyed'loony lefties and crusty old anachronisms of communists on there!

Or would you rather have a program where only socialists and scruffy 'proles'' are allowed on to spout thier nonsence? A real balance that debate would be eh?

Billy the Fish! (07/09/2009 at 09:28)

Ron, you are spot on, however 'left wing think tanks', there is a contradiction in terms!

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (07/09/2009 at 09:28)

Completely agree with the comments made by Tezza and Ron. Whatever your opinion of the BNP and their policies, the party has two elected MEP's who have a right to be heard as politicians from other political parties have a right to be heard.

Ron, Gorton (07/09/2009 at 09:35)

If you look at half the cabinet they were once members of the Communist Party. Are you telling me that suddenly they woke up one day and changed their leanings?

People don't see that as an issue but if anybody was as far to the right then suddenly they are Adolf Hitler's in waiting and the machine crushes them.

Voter (07/09/2009 at 09:56)

Nick Griffin is one of my elected MPs: it is a disgrace that he has not been on television before and shows the BBC bias against anything that they decide is not the thing. I look forward to these clever people of the other parties trying to argue against Griffin on immigration, a subject that they always avoid. I can well understand why the three bad old parties, who have let Britain down, don't want to debate against the BNP.

Compo, Wythenshawe (07/09/2009 at 10:02)

Let the BNP on question time, with a bit of luck give them enough rope and they may hang themselves. If the right questions are asked it could prove to be quite interesting.

Brook Lands (07/09/2009 at 10:20)

"Nick Griffin is one of my elected MPs: it is a disgrace that he has not been on television before and shows the BBC bias against anything that they decide is not the thing. I look forward to these clever people of the other parties trying to argue against Griffin on immigration, a subject that they always avoid. I can well understand why the three bad old parties, who have let Britain down, don't want to debate against the BNP."

Voter, you are wrong on so many levels, just starting with the first sentence even.

I look forward to Mr Griffin appearing, trying to squirm out of previous racist statements, squirming over past convictions.

And to the people who think New Labour is the same as communism, please, please tell me you haven't bred, it's too depressing to contemplate.

Mr Angry, Bury (07/09/2009 at 10:29)

If you demonise the BNP because you dont like them, as New Labour is doing, you drive them underground. This encourages support for them to spite the mainstream political establishment

I dont like the BNP and wouldnt vote for them but they are NOT an illegal organisation so why ban them from Question Time?

Or is it that you have a right to exprerss an opinion only as long as it is acceptable to the thought police?

Ron, Gorton (07/09/2009 at 10:52)

Brooklands, I am not syaing that New Labour (or Labour as they are now called) are the same as the Communist Party. Read before you type.

What I clearly said was that many. many memebers of the cabinet were members of the Communist Party. They can say 'I have changed that view' and that is acceptable.

Nick Griffin once held far lening views . He says 'I have changed that view' and you won't accept it.

No difference is there?

I listen to politica debate and read papers from the Guardian to the Telegraph so that I get different views. It would be unfair for anybody to deny me seeing what this Griffin has to say.

I remember watching Alan Whicker interview Pol Pot. Doesn't mean I supported Pol Pot does it?

Trouble is anyway if you even mention immigration you are immediately sized up as a racist. I don't mention many things now and try to suppress most thoughts relating to overseas policy.

Billy the Fish! (07/09/2009 at 10:55)

Brooklands: "And to the people who think New Labour is the same as communism, please, please tell me you haven't bred, it's too depressing to contemplate".

I thought they re-branded and got rid of the New Labour title?

Tezza, Tyldesley (07/09/2009 at 10:56)

If you people who don’t agree with them going on Question Time want to show your dislike, then the best thing to do is not to watch it if and when they get on.

Knowledge Poverty, WIPE OUT THE FERAL SINK ESTATE WHITE TRASH SCUM (07/09/2009 at 11:10)

Rash Prediction: He'll appear on Question Time, and some Stop / Smash / Disembowel the BNP types will somehow get in, throw eggs at him and / or try to attack him, and smash up his car on the way out. He'll make himself look like a calm moderate real representative of the little man, and they'll look like angry bitter damaged liberal bleeding heart guilt complex loonies.

Horatio Dogsbody, Flixton (07/09/2009 at 11:14)

We may not like what people say but we must not prevent them from saying it.

Censorship is the start of a very dangerous slippery slope which only serves to protect the guilty. Once one starts to silence a particular viewpoint with which one disagrees, where does one stop?

Far better to let them condemn themselves from their own mouths and demolish them with reasoned argument. Supressing their viewpoint only makes people believe that you are afraid of them.

Andy., Bury (07/09/2009 at 11:17)

Spot on Compo. Once they have to tackle issues in debate and cannot resort to the tactics they use elsewhere they'll be undone.

Baron Greenback (07/09/2009 at 11:18)

As unfortunate as it is, the have got 2 MEPS, elected legitimately. Put them on TV and let them condemn themselves from their own mouths. The BNP will not gain anything from being on Question Time. As much as I dislike a lot of MPs, I can think of many who would destroy Griffin in any debate. Disallow them from it, however, and we are on the road to creating a society which suppresses anything deemed inappropriate? Sorry, but that is truly unacceptable.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (07/09/2009 at 11:18)

Let him have his say for goodness sake, it's democracy! Anyone who assaults him on air/throws eggs etc at him deserves to go to prison and is nothing more than a thug in my eyes.

Brook Lands (07/09/2009 at 11:51)

"Nick Griffin once held far lening views . He says 'I have changed that view' and you won't accept it."

No, I don't accept it. I listened to their spokesman on Five Live last night, the presenter was asking about a policy currectly outlined on their website stating if a non white person committed a crime in the UK they would be deported, even if said person was 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation. That sounds fair doesn't it.

All the spokesman could say was "er, I'm not aware of that policy", not even great management there.

Of course, I do welcome the debate and I hope all the main parties will send senior figures to deal with the racists. We live in a democracy, something my Dad fought for in WW2 so debate is necessary. The scumbags in the BNP stand for what my father fought against, I sincerely hope this country hasn't forgotten what people went through during that time and what and why we fought.

Luke Sharp, Moss Side (07/09/2009 at 12:04)

May I suggest that we comment on this subject after the show when we have all seen what Nick Griffin has to say. Surely he can't be as bad as listening to the asinine chans of the main line party members.

Tezza, Tyldesley (07/09/2009 at 12:21)

Brook Lands

“We live in a democracy, something my Dad fought for in WW2 so debate is necessary. The scumbags in the BNP stand for what my father fought against”

As you say your father fought for democracy so we must give these people the right to voice their own opinions. You cant have it both ways,( i.e let people speak but only say what you agree with).

citycentre, manchester (07/09/2009 at 12:28)

"After all, they let enough 'swivel-eyed'loony lefties and crusty old anachronisms of communists on there!

Or would you rather have a program where only socialists and scruffy 'proles'' are allowed on to spout thier nonsence? A real balance that debate would be eh? "

Are you actually aware of any of the BNP's policies, other than on immigration? They are largely a mixture of socialist and nationalist ideas, so they should be quite at home amongst the other lefties on TV

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