So, what's the STW take on this then – The BNP are to be on Question Time

I have to say that I agree with this;

The BBC changed its position after the party won two seats at the European elections. Its share of the national vote at that poll was 6.2%. “They got across a threshold that has given them national representation and that fact will be reflected in the level of coverage they will be given,” said Ric Bailey, the BBC’s chief adviser on politics. “This is not a policy about the BNP. It’s a policy about impartiality.”

I also am of the opinion that the best way to beat these scum is not to ignore them, not to pretend they don't exist, but to confront them and to prove, in public, the failings of their "policies".

So, have them on there. Watch them flounder.

Every other panel member and the audience will be more inteligent, eloquent and convincing than any representative of the BNP. They will be shown to be the narrow minded simple bigots that they are.

I think it is an excellent move, let them come on and hang themselves.

Why shouldn't they be allowed on anyway? They are a legitimate party.

Support for freedom of Speech MUST extend to those you hate /oppose most. Cant be the freedom to agree with me can it how dumb is that.
They have some electoral support and I am sure that watching Mr Grifin danc eo na pin head whilst tring to pretend he is not a racist and that his party (including high ranking members who were in the NF and have been prosecuted for racial crimes) is not racist will be entertaining.
Give them oxygen watch them burn.

EDIT: please define legitimate party.

Just an afterthought but if there were not parties or people you opposed on QT, it would soon become a very dull programme.

indeed it would be Agreement Time
I will get my coat

Probably one of the few political points on which we'll agree Flash. I say bring 'em on and let the audience and panel tear them apart (figuratively speaking of course). My only concern is that the people who have voted for them will be unlikely to be QT viewers.

:lol:@ Junkyard!

Best advert against them was the party member on the local news when they won the seats, the guy couldn't string a sentence togeather.

Trouble is the folks who are inclined to vote for them wont be watching question time.

Bring 'em on I say – it gives the others the opportunity to challenge them

Every other panel member and the audience will be more inteligent, eloquent and convincing than any representative of the BNP

I wouldn't bank on that or under-estimate them

Some of the issues they raise need to be discussed openly in public and not just swept away because they are seen as un pc like using reverse discrimination to fill university places and places in the work force. I do not agree with them, but it annoys me even more when creditable politicians refuse to talk about the things they bring up simply because they are the BNP.

The people who are voting for them in the main will have no idea how extreme their views are, I had the misfortune quite a few years back to have a good friend who got caught up in their politics, it has destroyed a life long friendship and I no longer recognise him as even human let alone a friend. They will weave their way into ordinary peoples lives and become strong very quickly if they aren't faught on every front. Get them on there and make sure the awkward questions are put to them.

the best way to deal with them is to laugh at them, even though they're not funny – just tragic retards who are a waste of natural resources

Put that boss eyed gimp Griffin on. Two minutes of peddling the same shite about British people for British jobs and he will run out of lies and be exposed for what he is.

Will make interesting viewing.

I think this should be enough to give them..

You people do realise that you're coming across as more fascist than they do, right?

What makes you say that, Goan?

Apart from duntmatter and a couple of ad homimen attacks on Griffin's partial blindness, most people seem to say let them speak.

What makes you say that, Goan?

an overriding desire to troll and be the centre of attention.

As for the OP, Im afraid I rather more agree with darcy's last point than CFH's. It serves little to belittle the BNP on Radio 4 where the audience will be largely educated, concious of closet fascism and generally moderate (whether left or right). Those that vote for the BNP are more than likely not in the audience, not going to be better informed from the debate having happened (whether they hear it or not) and would be better reached through a concerted campaign of ridicule across the red top papers.

No Stoner that's not why I do it.

The undertone to most of the posts is that the BNP have absolutely nothing to offer the political debate. Whereas, in reality you need to allow both extremes to be heard in order to find a truly balanced view. Plus, we all know what happens if you dont engage those with extremist views.

The undertone to most of the posts is that the BNP have absolutely nothing to offer the political debate

That's not fascism, though – is it? Fascism (at least in a modern usage) would be to deny them the right to talk. Ridiculing them, assuming they have nothing to offer – that's a legitimate opinion.

Depends on your definition of fascist though doesn't it. And lets face it there is no universally accepted definition of the word.

whatever the definition you wish to use Smee I dont think any of them have ever extended to include "ridiculing a political party on Radio 4"…which seems to be the thrust of most posts in this thread…

It serves little to belittle the BNP on Radio 4 where the audience will be largely educated, concious of closet fascism and generally moderate

it's on the telly, maybe you are thinking of Any Questions?

I agree though, few of the people who voted will watch, they will just be sold propaganda after the event touting it as a glorious victory fro Griffin.

Dimbleby will tear him to shreds just like he always is when he appears on Radio 4 in the mornings. John Humphrys has a particular habit of making him look like a 5 year old child trying to weedle an icecream out of his mum.

My mistake.

But my point still stands, the audience will be the moderate ABC1s, not the knuckle draggers or disaffected working class who either vote BNP or to whom the BNP appeal naturally.

That's a good point indeed, Stoner. But….they have (sadly) earned a right to representation and this is about the highest profile chance they'll have to hang themselves. Yes, the majority of the audience will not be the knuckle draggers you mention, but the BNP do have to be challenged in public.

But my point still stands, the audience will be the moderate ABC1s, not the knuckle draggers or disaffected working class who either vote BNP or to whom the BNP appeal naturally.

Like any other political party they will of course spin the news to show themselves in a good light, but they won't be able to present themselves as outsiders, censored by the national press, with issues that are ignored by the other parties.

Question Time = waste of time. IMO

Question one should be about some of the BNP's economic policies:

Britain’s survival depends on a technology-intensive manufacturing base, protected from globalisation and rampant internationalist exploitation – the core of the British National Party’s plan for rebuilding this nation’s economy after decades of Tory and Labour neglect.

Globalisation has caused the export of jobs and industries to the Far East, and has brought ruin and unemployment to British industries and the communities who depend on them.

Accordingly, the BNP calls for the selective exclusion of foreign-made goods from British markets and the reduction of foreign imports. We will ensure that our manufactured goods are, wherever possible, produced in British factories, employing British workers.

They want to put Brant out of business.

It will be interesting the approach the "neutral" BBC take. Invite the BNP to the QT held in a University with an audience of socialist students baying for blood might actually backfire. Too much booing and hissing might mean he can't talk enough and thus show what the BNP are all about.

Or too may protesters blocking his entrance to the studio might be seen in a bad light too.

The reason for the rise of the BNP was evident this morning on the BBC news. The Labour (I think) MP basically said she's ignored everything and everyone who mentioned the BNP. So she put her head in the sand basically and ignored voters real concerns (not the ones she wants to hear). Easy targets then for the BNP.

Same goes here, try to hide them away and people will get disaffected with the current "squeaky clean" MPs and try an alternative. To be honest, I can see a lot of their ideas appealing to people (immigration etc.) superficially. If we only do the "soundbites" all the time (alas a political invention itself so only themselves to blame) then the truth will never get out.

I read recently (I am struggling to recall where, I think it was an article in New Statetsman following the eurpoean elections) that the BNP does better at by-passing the mainstream media and appealling directly to its actual or potential supporters than any other political party. The BNP's website attracts more traffic, and people spend more time on there, than either Labur's or the Conservatives'. BNP supporters are not getting the information that forms the basis of their voting choices from the BBC or the papers, they are getting it direct from the party.

Also, in its heartland areas it does actually exist as a social movement. These people may be racists, but they are racists with a working community organisation, despite their shortage of numbers. Conservative party membership has apparently shrunk by 30% or so since Cameron became leader (Indy yesterday), Labour membership is declining at a horrendous rate. The BNP do better at political organisation and at attracting members than other parties do. They are better at doing the work that brings in people to the party even if those people are ignoran of or indifferent to parts of the programme.

All of which is troubling. I agree that allowing them to ventilate their unpleasantness in front of a large audience is better than excluding them from the airwaves. But it will not achieve a great deal, except possibly to entrench the view among BNP enthusiasts that there is a BBC conspiracy to make their leaders look stupid.

I was saying 'give them enough rope to hang themselves'. That means 'let them speak'.

breatheeasy – Member
"It will be interesting the approach the "neutral" BBC take. Invite the BNP to the QT held in a University with an audience of socialist students baying for blood might actually backfire. Too much booing and hissing might mean he can't talk enough and thus show what the BNP are all about"

Am not disagreeing with the points you are making but you should understand that the BNP are a socialist party. Most facist parties have the same socialist ideals as many so called leftist parties, of course the added bonus of racism (and better uniforms). In fact when you look at the base policies of many a socialist/facist parties the similarities are obvious (see captjon's BNP quote). At the end of the day left and right are one and the same, some one (or group) who thinks they know better will be telling you what to do and think, if you don't like it you'll suffer.

Get Mr Griffin on the telly and radio with tne right people, ask him the hard questions and he'll finish himself and the BNP. After all he's not in the same league as Musselini, Hitler, Stalin or Lenin (did I write that?).

After all he's not in the same league as Musselini, Hitler, Stalin or Lenin

Only in his dreams!

I got it duntmatter.

Would be interesting to see whether they do embarrass themselves on national TV.

What this country needs is a damn good thrashing…