[~Ani~]

The leader of the British National Party is to appear on a highly regarded political show, Question Time, on the BBC tonight, sparking a storm of protests from all areas. Should a fascist party be allowed to have a public voice, or should they be ostracised?

My own person feelings are, much as I loathe the BNP and all they stand for, this is still a free country with freedom of speech. But... but... I really don't know.

Here is a link about the protests at the BBC studios:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8321157.stm

[pasiphae9]

The BNP has a right to freedom of speech, no matter how wrong they are...but so do the protesters.
Its a very difficult situation I don't see how it could be handled any differently, without taking away freedom of speech somewhere along the line.

But I'm no expert on these matters, so I await someone who is to post.

[muldutch]

much as I loathe the BNP and all they stand for, this is still a free country with freedom of speech.

These are my feelings also.

[angelwhereareyou?]

We can't claim to be a democracy and then only allow certain people a voice. No matter how abhorrent and vile the BNP's policies are (and the Nick Griffin is) he has as much right to air them as anyone else.
I firmly believe this will do more harm than good to the BNP because they have a platform to speak and can no longer claim they are being censored or the British public don't understand.
There is an old saying about giving someone enough rope to hang himself.
I think that is the BBC's agenda.
See you here at 10.30

[~Ani~]

I think that is the BBC's agenda.

I'm not sure it is, I think the BBC are doing their utmost to prove that they are politically unbiased, and if they didn't have bias levelled at them by the media, then they would never have considered inviting Griffin to the show. But then it's good for ratings...

Alas I won't be online when the show is aired, but it will be interesting to see if Griffin will be allowed to speak by the audience.

[Oracle at Delphi]

The BNP has a right to freedom of speech, no matter how wrong they are...but so do the protesters.
Its a very difficult situation I don't see how it could be handled any differently, without taking away freedom of speech somewhere along the line.

But I'm no expert on these matters, so I await someone who is to post.

^Agreed I think though no matter what the BNP will come off worse with the audience, at least I'm hoping so.

It's going to be messy whatever happens so I think I'll watch Saw 3 on C4 at least the killings will be all fictional.

[angelwhereareyou?]

Saw 3 was on? Shit. Griffin looks like a warthog and is coming across with the intelligence of one. Maybe I am being unfair to warthogs

[Green Eyes]

Totally agree with all that has been said so far in this thread.

I watched the whole programme...the first time I have watched Question Time for ages.

I was glad to see that NG got as much stick from the panel as he did from the audience. Vile man and views.

[Proxen]

Whether or not they are fascist, and whether or not protesting fuckers like it... Only one question is relevant to me: Will there be TITS?

[~Ani~]

Some might say that Griffin is the biggest tit in the country

Not had chance to watch it yet, but judging from reports, it seems the idiot was true to form.

[will8929]

I think it's good that they got him onto question time,
we have to let these people speak, but in doing so on something like question time, it enables us to combat and knock down his views very publicly
when everyone walked out on hitler in disgust, he was left to his own devices, that was a big mistake,
we can't ignore these people, we have to prove how wrong they are but in a legitimate way.

[Poppy]

I actually think that the BBC have legitimised the BNP by treating their policies and ideas like the views of just another mainstream political party. They aren't.

The BNP are unquestionably racist. Their constitution and membership criteria restrict membership to only specific 'ethnic groups' and those whose skin colour is white, which is illegal.

There is a difference between freedom of speech and giving them such a high profile and highly regarded platform as Question Time. The BBC are part responsible for the huge rise in support and membership the party have now gained since the show, not only for giving them the spot in the first place but by managing it so badly Griffin managed to make himself out as the victim at the hands of a "lynch mob". Yes, I agree that if they are gaining popularity they shouldn't be ignored or dismissed but don't give them a leg up!
The BBC are so eager to do the “right” thing and to show themselves as impartial they have given a facist party the biggest helping hand in their whole campaign, maybe even their whole history. The viewers for the show were something like 4 times the amount that they would usually get, around 3,00 people have signed up as members since airing, the BNP now have the most visited political party website in Britain, and possibly the world.

Although I do think Bonnie Greer was awesome.