The BNP may appear on BBC's Question Time

[Pappa]

I'm looking forward to it personally, but I dislike the idea of our more conventional politicians refuting the BNP's mess. Jack Straw is boring, he's the same old same old--when contrasted with some radical, who is going to seem more interesting?

It will be interesting to see how he responds to audience questions. I'd certainly like to see it when it happens. He doesn't strike me as a suave statesman type, able to weave his way through difficult questions without giving firm answers (like Blair).

[devogue]

I'm looking forward to it personally, but I dislike the idea of our more conventional politicians refuting the BNP's mess. Jack Straw is boring, he's the same old same old--when contrasted with some radical, who is going to seem more interesting?

It will be interesting to see how he responds to audience questions. I'd certainly like to see it when it happens. He doesn't strike me as a suave statesman type, able to weave his way through difficult questions without giving firm answers (like Blair).

I remember after the European elections he was interviewed on Sky and the newsreader ripped him to shreds and made a complete twat out of him very quickly and very easily.

This will happen on Question Time, but it will be even more intense. The only worry I have is that the panel and audience get too heated and emotional and inadvertently create sympathy for Griffen among people watching at home.

[Pappa]

I'm looking forward to it personally, but I dislike the idea of our more conventional politicians refuting the BNP's mess. Jack Straw is boring, he's the same old same old--when contrasted with some radical, who is going to seem more interesting?

It will be interesting to see how he responds to audience questions. I'd certainly like to see it when it happens. He doesn't strike me as a suave statesman type, able to weave his way through difficult questions without giving firm answers (like Blair).

I remember after the European elections he was interviewed on Sky and the newsreader ripped him to shreds and made a complete twat out of him very quickly and very easily.

This will happen on Question Time, but it will be even more intense. The only worry I have is that the panel and audience get too heated and emotional and inadvertently create sympathy for Griffen among people watching at home.

I expect so, but if it opens a chink in their facade to expose their underlying racism, it should be a good thing.

[Deep Sea Isopod]

If NU labour (Or Tories when they win next year) would actually get their fat snouts out of the trough and do something about immigration, crime, EU, health tourism etc, then no one would feel the need to vote for the BNP.

[Chauncey Gardner]

I caught a bit of Question Time last night...and there was a topic where people kept referring to the fact that the BNP will be on the show next week along with Jack Straw and a few others.

If it's true...I hope they have on some street-savvy intellectuals who can crucify whichever BNP candidate they put on.

[Rum]

I caught a bit of Question Time last night...and there was a topic where people kept referring to the fact that the BNP will be on the show next week along with Jack Straw and a few others.

If it's true...I hope they have on some street-savvy intelectuals who can crucify whichever BNP candidte they put on.

Yes, sadly it is true. If nobody pulls out. It will be worth watching as I suspect it will turn into a zoo.

[Chauncey Gardner]

Yes, sadly it is true. If nobody pulls out. It will be worth watching as I suspect it will turn into a zoo.

While I agree with you, I'm still slightly worried...and for the following reasons...

The sort of people who support the BNP or share their sentiments tend not to be the sharpest tools in the shed. So, if the other politicians/panel members gang up on Griffin or whoever is put on the panel, they can play the victim and pander to those who would just see it as a bullying job by the "political class" for lack of a better description.

Also, I notice the BNP have done a lot of work on how they phrase things....for example, their response to the way they are being forced to change their constitution which bans asians, blacks and other minorities from joining, sounds almost plausible if you take away the fact that the people saying it are deeply racist.

Ultimately...my main worry is that there are a lot of people in the UK who harbour similar feelings towards non-white and non-british people....and if Griffin gets beaten up on question time...people of that ilk will feel sympathy for him being "bullied". You know, the "them n us" scenario...particularly if the other panel members are in any way posh or come across as condescending.

They need to have a street-smart intellectual on there to pick the fight. A person who the sort of people who support the BNP can identify with. They don't connect with posh graduates from eton.

[Rum]

Yes, sadly it is true. If nobody pulls out. It will be worth watching as I suspect it will turn into a zoo.

While I agree with you, I'm still slightly worried...and for the following reasons...

The sort of people who support the BNP or share their sentiments tend not to be the sharpest tools in the shed. So, if the other politicians/panel members gang up on Griffin or whoever is put on the panel, they can play the victim and pander to those who would just see it as a bullying job by the "political class" for lack of a better description.

Also, I notice the BNP have done a lot of work on how they phrase things....for example, their response to the way they are being forced to change their constitution which bans asians, blacks and other minorities from joining, sounds almost plausible if you take away the fact that the people saying it are deeply racist.

Ultimately...my main worry is that there are a lot of people in the UK who harbour similar feelings towards non-white and non-british people....and if Griffin gets beaten up on question time...people of that ilk will feel sympathy for him being "bullied". You know, the "them n us" scenario...particularly if the other panel members are in any way posh or come across as condescending.

They need to have a street-smart intellectual on there to pick the fight. A person who the sort of people who support the BNP can identify with. They don't connect with posh graduates from eton.

I am sure all the above it true. It is also true that they took a high enough proportion of the vote (partly because although their vote was more or less the same a large portion of the electorate just didn't bother at the recent Euro elections)..to give them the right to a voice.

Personally I think it will be a good thing as someone like Jack Straw, who is a deeply intelligent man whatever else one thinks of him, will be able to tie them up in knots.

As an aside there was a BNP trestle set up in the middle of Carlisle earlier this week when I walked into the centre to get a sarnie at luck time. I walked past without noticing them as the guy offered me a leaflet. A bit startled and doing a bit of a double take I just said 'stick it' and walked by.. ooooh - that must have scared them! :pissed:

[BlackBart]

At, the end of the day, these people have to be exposed as the despicable creatures they are and, unfortunately, that involves giving them airtime. If you attempt to stifle or censor them, they'll gain a 'Robin Hood' aura. It's best to give them enough rope to hang themselves. This is the party, after all, that published photos of the Spitfire on their election flyers...a decisive weapon in the war against...NAZISM!! Genius.

[Rum]

It would seem that some people are putting up a fight. Peter Hain, a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner thinks it would be illegal for the BNP to participate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8313680.stm


BNP debate 'illegal', warns Hain

The BBC could face legal action over British National Party leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has warned.

The show is due to feature Mr Griffin, Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Tory and Lib Dem panellists on 22 October. But Mr Hain has written to BBC director general Mark Thompson arguing the BNP was "an unlawful body" following a court ruling on its membership policy. The BBC said it would respond to Mr Hain's letter "in due course".

'Unlawful body'

No BNP representatives have yet appeared on the BBC's flagship panel show. But the corporation reviewed its position following the party's success in last June's European elections, in which Mr Griffin was one of two BNP candidates to be elected as an MEP. The corporation has said it was obliged to treat all parties with "due impartiality".

But in his letter, Mr Hain, a prominent anti-apartheid activist before becoming an MP, said the decision should be reconsidered in light of a legal case about ethnic restrictions on the BNP's membership rules. The party has agreed to amend its constitution after the Equalities and Human Rights Commission sought an injunction, claiming the BNP was breaking the Race Relations Act by restricting membership to "indigenous Caucasian" people.

Mr Hain wrote: "Now that the BNP have accepted they are at present an unlawful body, it would be perverse of you to maintain that they are just like any other democratically-elected party. On their own admission, at present, they are not.

"If you do not review the decision you may run the very serious risk of legal challenge in addition to the moral objections that I make.

"In my view, your approach is unreasonable, irrational and unlawful."

Mr Hain said the invitation should be suspended until a new constitution could be agreed and the court was satisfied that the party passed "a basic threshold of legality".

He added: "In the meantime, surely you have no choice but to rescind the invitation and await the court's final decision on the matter?

"You are giving the BNP a legitimacy even they dare not claim in their current unlawful status."

A BBC spokesman said: "Our understanding is that, if there was an election tomorrow, the BNP would be able to stand.

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

Anti-fascist campaigners have said they will stage a demonstration against Mr Griffin's appearance on the show at the BBC's Television Centre, west London.

As well as Mr Griffin and Mr Straw, panellists are expected to include Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne and playwright and critic Bonnie Greer.

[JimC]

Interesting. Perhaps elements within the BNP wish to go legit (or at least appear to do so)

They may make some token moves away from outright racism, and attempt to capitalise on things such as:

- anti muslim/anti terrorist sentiment
- fear over jobs being taken by immigrants of any race

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Interesting. Perhaps elements within the BNP wish to go legit (or at least appear to do so)

They may make some token moves away from outright racism, and attempt to capitalise on things such as:

- anti muslim/anti terrorist sentiment
- fear over jobs being taken by immigrants of any race

They already do. Their current membership is restricted to indigenous caucasians. If you speak with a funny accent, you can't get in either. They hate everyone that does not conform to their idea of Britishness. They are equal-opportunity racists!

[Chauncey Gardner]

It would seem that some people are putting up a fight. Peter Hain, a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner thinks it would be illegal for the BNP to participate.

I'm not so sure how it's illegal for the BNP to appear on Question Time or how the BBC are breaking the law.

I would tend to subscribe to Evelyn Beatrice Hall's sentiments about freedom of expression, i.e. I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it and while objecting to their appearance on QT doesn't exactly take away their right to say what they want...I don't completely agree with Hains attempt to sabotage this weeks QT.

It reminds me of the disastrous Thatcher policy that meant actors were hired to do voice overs for Gerry Adams & Martin McGuinness on BBC news in the 1980s. Anyone remember that? While I'm not equivocating Sinn Féin with the BNP (it's well known that the BNP have close ties with loyalists in Norn Iron) I would argue that Hains' manoeuvre is similarly ill-advised.

Thatchers' measures revealed how badly ruffled British political feathers were at the time and as it turns out, signalled the start of the end game for them. In the same breath, even though the BNP don't have the same intelligence, savvy public relations or political nous that Adams & McGunness possessed, I would see a Hain style block on the BNP appearing on QT as being a big mistake.

There's a sufficient cloud hanging over their appearance as it is. Banning them from appearing, for whatever reason, will draw more people to them...in the same way graham linehan and arthur mathews brilliantly satirised human nature's attraction to the forbidden or banned in the Father Ted episode titled "The Passion Of St Tibulus" - where ted and dougal were instructed by Bishop Brennan to protest outside a cinema showing a naughty movie.

In many respects, I would actually argue that Question Time is a very good platform to expose the BNP. I just hope that David Dimbleby has his wits about him on the night....I bet Griffin is practising a collection of sound-byte-sized lines and rebuttals now in preparation for an onslaught from other panellists (and hopefully from the audience). Speaking of the audience, Jacqueline Smith got a bigger boo than Nick Griffin from the audience last week when Dimbleby was announcing who would be appearing in thursdays edition.

[Pappa]

It would seem that some people are putting up a fight. Peter Hain, a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner thinks it would be illegal for the BNP to participate.

I'm not so sure how it's illegal for the BNP to appear on Question Time or how the BBC are breaking the law.

Me neither. The court ruling has simply stated that their constitution breaks race our race discrimination law, and must be changed. They've been given until a date in November to change it. In the meantime their constitution is not in effect (if I understood the news correctly). I don't see how that would make the party illegal.

It seems to be a way of getting their appearance on the BBC stopped by the backdoor.

[Chauncey Gardner]

It would seem that some people are putting up a fight. Peter Hain, a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner thinks it would be illegal for the BNP to participate.

I'm not so sure how it's illegal for the BNP to appear on Question Time or how the BBC are breaking the law.

Me neither. The court ruling has simply stated that their constitution breaks race our race discrimination law, and must be changed. They've been given until a date in November to change it. In the meantime their constitution is not in effect (if I understood the news correctly). I don't see how that would make the party illegal.

It seems to be a way of getting their appearance on the BBC stopped by the backdoor.

I don't think it will (get their appearance stopped)....in many respects, the words glass, stones and houses springs to mind. In other words, aren't many of Peter Hains' colleagues and peers possibly facing criminal proceedings following the expenses scandal?

Or to put it another way...this thursdays question time is all about taking a moral stance....so...whoever is on the panel would be wise to ensure they are squeaky clean, when it comes to the second-home/expenses scandals....I maybe wrong, but, that was the reason that Jacqueline Smith got a bigger boo than Nick Griffin from the QT audience last week when Dimbleby was announcing who would appear on this weeks installment.