News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos


Don't miss our new Youth Sport supplement every Thursday inside your Echo Youth Sport inside the Daily Echo

Facebook Daily Echo on Facebook

All of today's content from across the site, all in one place at bournemouthecho.co.uk/today

Is BNP leader Nick Griffin a suitable guest for BBC's Question Time?

8:00am Tuesday 20th October 2009 in


IT was always going to be a controversial decision, but the BBC has now been warned it could face legal action for allowing British National Party leader Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time.

The far-right MEP is due to be a guest on the political debate show on Thursday, alongside Justice Secretary Jack Straw, representatives of the other main parties and black writer Bonnie Greer.

But Welsh Secretary Peter Hain argued that the BNP was, at present, “an unlawful body” after it told a court last week it would amend its whites-only membership rules to meet discrimination legislation.

Mr Hain is not alone in not wanting Mr Griffin to appear on the programme.

Jim Knight, Labour MP for South Dorset, also voiced his concerns to the Daily Echo.

“I don’t think the BBC should have invited him on,” he said.

“This is a very high-profile political programme and it gives the BNP a status which I don’t think they should have. I don’t think Question Time is the right forum for him to be allowed.

“I’ve been on the programme a couple of times and you have a very limited time to answer questions in. It’s easy to play to the gallery and that’s what politicians like Nick Griffin do, rather than really being forced into confronting difficult questions. I think it’s too high a risk for the BBC. They have no legal obligation to do this.”

However, others thought the BBC’s decision did have some benefits.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, admitted she was not happy with the situation.

But she added: “What I think is probably the best thing is that a really strong panel is fielded from the other parties so that people become very much aware of what the BNP stands for. You can’t get away from the fact that there are elected representatives of the BNP. I think a good, open discussion could be a good thing.”

Dr Darren Lilliker, Bournemouth University’s senior political communications lecturer agreed.

“I can understand the arguments against having Griffin on the programme,” he said.

“But if they’re allowed to talk on the doorstep, under the media radar, not having a scrutiny on what they say, then they can say what they like.

“Debating with other politicians it puts them under a better spotlight – people in the audience will be able to question their views and it might make people think a bit more about who they are and what they stand for.”

Related links


Comments(35)

ferret38 says...
8:09am Tue 20 Oct 09

Absolutely got my support all the way .

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Emulated says...
8:13am Tue 20 Oct 09

Everyone is entitled to their say. Whilst not the party I would vote for the BNP are correct on many issues which the main parties refuse to discuss, let alone tackle. Enoch Powells "Rivers of Blood" speech will no doubt become reality.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Phil67 says...
8:16am Tue 20 Oct 09

He's got as much right to go on Question Time as any of the other polictical leaders. Are we not a democracy?

The BNP is at least listening to grass roots supporters unlike main line parties.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tripod says...
8:54am Tue 20 Oct 09

Personally I'm not that interested in hearing what Mr Griffin has to say, but I'll defend his right to say it; the comments from the other Political parties say a lot about the state of politics in this (free?) country.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Esqui says...
9:15am Tue 20 Oct 09

You can't tell them how hypocritically wrong they are without talking to them.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

GB916 says...
9:20am Tue 20 Oct 09

I agree,whether people agree or disagree with the BNP,they have a right to be on question time,otherwise political debate is dead,many of us dont like what the other parties say and do,but they have a voice and the chance to defend themselves,so does the BNP,thats why we live in a supposed free speech country

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

RageAgainstTheMachine says...
9:44am Tue 20 Oct 09

Be interesting to see what the veiwing figures are,i imagine they will be a lot higher than usual.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bertie_bert says...
9:46am Tue 20 Oct 09

Mr Hain has claimed that by allowing BNP leader Nick Griffin onto Question Time, the BBC was acting in contravention of the law “because the BNP has admitted that it is an illegal organisation.”

Mr Hain, who was arrested in 1974 for a bank robbery in Putney after four eyewitnesses identified him as the suspect, is of course, lying. His claim that the BNP admitted that it is currently acting contrary to the law is based on a deliberate twisting of the original settlement letter handed in to the court during last week’s case brought by the race Gestapo Commission for Equalities and Human Rights.

At no time during or in the settlement of the case, did the BNP’s representatives accept that the party was anything but a lawfully constituted organisation under the current Race Relations Act.

The BNP merely undertook to use their reasonable endeavours to ensure that the constitution of the BNP would comply with the upcoming Equality Act, which is not yet in force and which is only due for Royal Assent in Spring next year.

This means that all the BNP has done is undertake to comply with a law that is due to come into force at a future date. Nothing was agreed or conceded by the BNP concerning the current law.

Even the decision to halt membership applications was made in order to take the BNP outside the remit of the existing law and therefore make it impossible for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to pursue its politically motivated legal action against the party.

Any legal action against the BBC which argues the BNP is and has accepted that it is an unlawful organisation, is therefore based on a complete lie and is bound to fail.


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Invisible says...
9:53am Tue 20 Oct 09

Nick Griffin is a very intelligent and articulate individual. Don't agree with all his policies, but trust him far more than any of the stupid, greedy and thoroughly out-of-touch politicians that make up the LibLabCon trick!

From a one time, staunch Tory supporter...


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

twynham says...
10:02am Tue 20 Oct 09

Talking of complete lies Bertie.

"Mr Hain, who was arrested in 1974 for a bank robbery in Putney after four eyewitnesses identified him as the suspect"

And subsequently not charged when it was confirmed the 'robber' was, in fact, a South African Secret Service agent!

Truth will out; but not via the BNP.




Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Jonkers says...
10:09am Tue 20 Oct 09

Interesting to see so much "support" or at least comments justifying their right to say what they think, and in part at least there seems that most agree that some of what they say is something people want talked about and are fed up with the main political parties ignoring the elephant in the room as too much of a "political hot potato".

Is the wind changing in that respect do people think? I wonder.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

[Chris] says...
10:35am Tue 20 Oct 09

Although I do not and will not support them, I do believe that the BNP have the right to speak, whether it is on prime political TV or elsewhere. It is better to see them, so that others can pick their brains. What I am against is that the BNP are using Battle of Britain posters, and using the Army and Armed Forces as their back drop and title to their meetings. The Armed Forces are non political in their own right, and should be used by any party, in particular as part of party who is racist, when the British Armed Forces has a larg number of ethnic members in their ranks, and of course the Ghurkhas, who no doubt the BNP would get rid of.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

wayneofafcb says...
10:51am Tue 20 Oct 09

Would have been good to have seen ian Hislop on the programme, or others of his ilk, who could have torn into Griffin. The likes of Straw will toe party lines.
As for law breakers, some of the BNP councilors in their Dagenham council have been done for council tax fraud, housing benefit fraud, and now their leader has been caught making up attacks by immigrants on Brits.
Let them have their say. It's best way to show up their sad ways. And their dodgy councilors.


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

In Absentia says...
11:24am Tue 20 Oct 09

I'll be watching purely because it's going to be 'car crash' TV. Anyone who expects there to be a rational debate of any current national issues will be disappointed. It will degenerate into a shouting match where Griffin will play the martyr and spin the usual lies about how the white majority are unable to express their views.

Sadly, the viewers won't get the chance to hear how barking mad their basic principles are.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Bob49 says...
11:48am Tue 20 Oct 09

Irony is that the freedom of speech Griffin bleats about is the freedom of speech his party OPPOSES. And sickeningly with armistice day coming closer we have to witness more rancid pus oozing from the wound of war.

My great uncle lost a friend killed about 30 miles from Bergen Belsen concentration camp. A place and it's horrific events which never happened according to Griffin. He amusingly refers to it as the 'holohoax'.

It was not Hitler that caused so much loss of life, British civilians and soldiers but the sick hypocrites who were prepared to turn a blind eye to what he was advocating because he had found ready made scapegoats for their hatred.

So yes, let him speak if only for a young generatiom to see how it was not just the German people of seventy years ago that were prepared to swallow lies and even regurgitate them.

I wonder how many of these sick hypocrites will call themselves christians and celebrate Xmas this year. Peace on earth to all men they will murmur - unless your skin colour is different, you religion is different, you are disabled or even believe that those who work should have rights and not be slaves of the state.

Yes, let's hear the real Nick Griffin speak and lets hear his followers defend his real views.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pipistrollers says...
2:37pm Tue 20 Oct 09

Nick Griffin should have his say. Can't say I would vote his way but he is an elected MEP. If he doesn't have the right to speak then really none of the others do either. That is democracy.


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

John T says...
3:30pm Tue 20 Oct 09

Interesting that there is no comment in this article from Tobias Ellwood, Sir John Butterfull or Poole's Conservative MP. Were they out of touch, or just visiting their second homes?!
It is also unfortunate that the Labour Party representative on this Question Time is to be Jack Straw, the former President of the NUS, and co-conspiritor when Peter Hain was advocating law-breaking to get his way in the 1960s.
Only when the BNP's bandwagon and arguments are confronted will they be stopped in their tracks.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

upyourpipe says...
4:52pm Tue 20 Oct 09

As Nick Griffin has been elected to european parliment he has every right to appear on question time alongside all other members of parliment.
Although i do not subscribe to Mr Griffins stance or views it is the unwillingness of the other parties to discuss alot of what Mr Griffin stands for that has allowed him to gain a foothold in british politics.
There are a lot of people among us that do back Mr Griffin in what he has to say so i believe that he should be given the oppertunity to either defend himself or incriminate himself, either way you cannot censor something or someone just because you do not agree with what they say or stand for, by using censorship on Mr Griffin you will just up the publicity for the BNP and we will never be rid of them.
For Mr Griffin question time on thursday will be either his downfall or his it will increase his popularity, only time will tell.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

[Chris] says...
5:01pm Tue 20 Oct 09

One thing that will come up on Question Time is his lunchtime news interview that he says he has the backing of the majority of troops on the BNPs stance. What a load of twaddle. The only troops he would ever support is the Neo Nazi/Mosley Black Shirts.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bofors says...
5:33pm Tue 20 Oct 09

wrote:
One thing that will come up on Question Time is his lunchtime news interview that he says he has the backing of the majority of troops on the BNPs stance. What a load of twaddle. The only troops he would ever support is the Neo Nazi/Mosley Black Shirts.
What qualification have you to speak for the troops,have you done a survey,conducted a poll,or been visiting the camps,etc of course not,you were not even born when mosley was active or seen a black shirt.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pipistrollers says...
6:32pm Tue 20 Oct 09

Someone has opened their mouth without first finding out the facts!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Bob49 says...
6:49pm Tue 20 Oct 09

On that line what qualification does Griffin have about soldiers views. None. Griffin knows claims that Churchill would have joined your lot - odd that when you remember he jailed and interred you as enemies of the state. Odd that it was British soldiers fighting and dying to rid the free world of your kind. Did those British soldiers who liberated the concentration camps lie as Griffin tells us ? Maybe when the debate turns to freedom of speech you might care to notice who won't be at that debate. The millions upon millions who were killed by the Nazis. The hundreds of thousands of British (soldiers, women and children) killed by the nazis.
And after all for a man like Nick Griffin who has openly stated that parties he has associated (including the BNP) have a 'semi-hidden agenda' of neo-Nazism you can only wonder why he doesn't stick to his much proclaimed views for once. Why appear on Question Time when he believes " power is the product of force and will, not of rational debate."
Sensible people will not need to have been born when Moseley was active or have seen a blackshirt to be aware of the threat their modern day fellow travellers pose to all of us.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

lazybeach says...
7:29pm Tue 20 Oct 09

Nick Griffin has every right to air his views.That is what our country is all about.End of.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bofors says...
7:55pm Tue 20 Oct 09

What a laugh bob49 is,he thinks he is sensible and nobody else is.Whats he on.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Bob49 says...
10:53pm Tue 20 Oct 09

Free speech bofors. You are welcome to refute Griffin's views calling the concentration camps the holohoax. Free to tell us whether you agree with his views opposing rational debate (though I think you have already demonstrated that). Free to tell us whether you support a party that is, by Griffin's own words, neo nazi and how that stands with the knowledge that hundreds of thousands of Britions were killed by nazis.

As to my thinking that nobody else is sensible I would suggest that you get somebody with an IQ in double figures* to read the last paragraph and then maybe tell us all where I wrote that. Free speech bofors. I'm sure we would all like to hear your defence of the BNP.



* you'll have to look outside of the BNP for that

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

[Chris] says...
11:14pm Tue 20 Oct 09

bofors wrote:
wrote:
One thing that will come up on Question Time is his lunchtime news interview that he says he has the backing of the majority of troops on the BNPs stance. What a load of twaddle. The only troops he would ever support is the Neo Nazi/Mosley Black Shirts.
What qualification have you to speak for the troops,have you done a survey,conducted a poll,or been visiting the camps,etc of course not,you were not even born when mosley was active or seen a black shirt.
What qualification do I have to speak of the troops. Probably the fact that I served 28 years in the Armed Forces, and I know from those many years of experience, that the Armed Forces would not, and will not support the BNP.
.
I do not think there are many who do not know about Mosley and the Black Shirts, or the Nazi Party and the SS, whether they were born or not. What some of us have done is learnt about how our country has fought for what it is now, without some pip squeak like Nick Griffin stirring up people like you in believing that he has the armed forces on his side.
.
Like someone has said, does Griffin call the troops who freed the death camps, liars, no, it would not dream of it.
.
I think it is right what some people say. One should get the facts straight and true first before shouting their mouth off. I must admit you have a good username, bofors, I can remember them as a weapon. They too went sounding their noise all over the place. Rubbish weapon.
.
Incidentally, did you know Mosley, have you still got your black shirt, and stick on moustache.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pipistrollers says...
1:02am Wed 21 Oct 09

I think I am right in saying that that particular rubbish weapon kept jamming.

I also think it true that members of our armed forces are not allowed to be members of a far right party and wouldn't dream of it.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

GAHmusic says...
8:52am Wed 21 Oct 09

He may get to have his say on Question time but you can forget freedom of speech on the Echo forum. It would be shut down in five minutes if he dared to suggest white people have rights too. This kind of Fascism only exists because of government failures to protect this country from the modern day pillaging it receives to the cost of decent people.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Square Old Codger says...
10:09am Wed 21 Oct 09

One wonders why people are so scared to let him appear , just what are they frightened of? . There can be little doubt that the majority of the population believe that there has been too much immigration in to the UK, now, as a result, one of the most overcrowded Countries in the World, but few would support extreme actions against those here. The Italians are taking far stronger action to curb immigration than those suggested by the BNP and there is every chance that a Government will be elected in the Netherlands that will have similar policies. I have thought for some time that the high level of those allowed to come in to the UK was a policy to have surplus labour in the Economy to keep a cap on wages and keep inflation down. It should at least be debated and the main Political Parties be forced as a result to declare their positions and it should not be left to an extreme group to respond to genuine concerns. I am tired of extremists, causing disruption and gagging anyone who dares to have views opposing theirs. Free Speech was a hard earnt right and should be protected.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Jonkers says...
3:35pm Wed 21 Oct 09

Square Old Codger wrote:
One wonders why people are so scared to let him appear , just what are they frightened of? . There can be little doubt that the majority of the population believe that there has been too much immigration in to the UK, now, as a result, one of the most overcrowded Countries in the World, but few would support extreme actions against those here. The Italians are taking far stronger action to curb immigration than those suggested by the BNP and there is every chance that a Government will be elected in the Netherlands that will have similar policies. I have thought for some time that the high level of those allowed to come in to the UK was a policy to have surplus labour in the Economy to keep a cap on wages and keep inflation down. It should at least be debated and the main Political Parties be forced as a result to declare their positions and it should not be left to an extreme group to respond to genuine concerns. I am tired of extremists, causing disruption and gagging anyone who dares to have views opposing theirs. Free Speech was a hard earnt right and should be protected.
Well said.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bobaub says...
9:35pm Wed 21 Oct 09

At the end of the day, having read all the comments before me, it seems we still are British, in the true sense of the word. Britain has a way of life not governed by outside rule of foreign ways and ethics, (no matter what Whitehall has to say). The future figures for bodies in the UK is ludicrous compared with how many "foreigners" will be allowed on to this very small island. If it wasn't for our benefit system, how many would we have here now?
Let Nick Griffin have his say.
Isn't the BBC impartial after all.
Britain is not the USA, what ever they have there, it will not work here!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

ekimnoslen says...
5:36pm Thu 22 Oct 09

In a democracy we are all entitled to our opinion. The best way of dealing with the likes of our Nick is to let him air his views then demonstrate on air why he is wrong. However if we cannot achieve this then what? Muzzling is for the left wing and should not be adopted by the sensible, considerate, thinking majority

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

poolebabe says...
9:56am Sun 25 Oct 09

I think there are a lot of people in this country that are fed up with the far left and having the leftie views shoved down their throats, that sadly, people are swinging to the far right. A great many people do not trust the mainstream political parties anymore, and that is why parties like the BNP are gaining support. What was interesting on Questiontime was the universal opinion from all backgrounds seems to be the government are failing on immigration. Nick Griffin has gained a lot of support on that issue alone because people are fed up with the pace of change in the communities. Our government and future governments have to listen. It's as simple as that.


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Julian1964 says...
3:05pm Mon 26 Oct 09

The guy is degrading & disgusting and a insult to our country.So why is it ok for the british to live and work aboard while those aboard are not welcome here!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pipistrollers says...
7:24pm Mon 26 Oct 09

Julian1964 wrote:
The guy is degrading & disgusting and a insult to our country.So why is it ok for the british to live and work aboard while those aboard are not welcome here!
Julian, are you aware that thousands of Eastern European's came here claiming they were builders when they were not and took the jobs of our own builders as they work for less pay?

Are you also aware that because of this our own builders had no work and in turn a lot of them actually went to Eastern Europe to try and get some work, thus taking the place of those very Eastern European who took their jobs in the first place?

That is fact, it has been happening in London for a long time now.

I am not racist but that is why I don't welcome them here.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


QUESTION TIME GUEST: Was the BBC right to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin on to its flagship political debate show? QUESTION TIME GUEST: Was the BBC right to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin on to its flagship political debate show?

Most popular







Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses