BNP on Question Time

[MuddyWitch]

Am I the only one who thinks Nick Griffin should have been invited to take part in the next series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' just to show him, and all the other racists, that NO-ONE is racially pure?

I just hope he is shown up for the manipulating piece of excriment he is!

MW

[contadina]

Nope, I'm with you MW. Aside from being undemocratic, to have banned him would only do them good in the long run. Best to let him make a ar*e of himself and for the BNP policies (such that they are) to be held up to public scrutiny.

[pumpy]

Nope, I'm with you MW. Aside from being undemocratic, to have banned him would only do them good in the long run. Best to let him make a ar*e of himself and for the BNP policies (such that they are) to be held up to public scrutiny.

I totally agree. I shall be watching the programme with interest, not because i want the man/BNP get slagged off, but to hear any sort of justification for their "policies". Every party ( who have won votes in a democratic process) is entitled to air their views, however, are the views of BNP part of a underlying trend......... particularly the news that the population of G.B. is set to rise drastically, mainly due to immigrant influx? I would like to see the BNP members refuse NHS treatment, (e.g.), because it's full of migrant workers. Howabout the transport system that they undoubtably use?.............." I can't ride on that bus because it's driven by a foreigner". This is a free country,& we also have the right to live & work abroad, or would the BNP rather that we all stayed at home & maintained our isolated island status. (anyway, that's what i think!).

[grahamhobbs]

I grew up in London in the fifties, there were no blacks, the foreigners then were the Irish and notice boards for flats to rent often said 'no Irish'. Around Brick Lane were the Jews. Then the West Indians came, then Indians, Bengalis, etc, etc. Now in London, it is so rare to meet, what I consider, a true Londoner like myself.

The BNP say they would like to go back these 50 years, to when England was white, ignoring the fact that it was then split into rigid classes. In those days the likes of me had to know our place, England wasn't 'ours', it was owned by the gaffers and landlords. It was a world of intolerance and rigidity.

The sixties changed all that and brought about a revolution in social relationships. The old class boundaries started to dissolve. The ordinary person gained many freedoms, including the right to travel, the right not to work in the same dockyards/factory as your father, etc,etc. We can travel abroad and others can come here.

None of us own this or that country, certainly the ordinary person doesn't, we are lucky to own a few square metres and a roof over our heads.

Today London is the probably most cosmopolitan city in the world and is so much the better for it.

The BNP have no answers to any of todays problems and can only lead us back into the rigid, intolerant world of the past.

[Green Aura]

I, frankly, am terrified.

I'd like to think he'll make a complete pillock and expose his (even) nastier side and foul hateful policies, but I fear that the BBC will be so desperate to be seen to be fair they'll give him the platform that he would deny to most other people.

He thinks this will make him look like a proper politician - I am so worried he's right.

I'm even more concerned at the attitude of Mark Thompson (I think that's his surname - DG of the BBC) who banned the Gaza appeal coverage and insists on giving Griffin a platform. I can't work out where he stands but he certainly doesn't seem to be impartial. He should go.

[ShaunP]

I am for free speech. Whever you agree or disagree with there views they have now won 2 seats as MEP's so I understand why the BBC are giving him a chair. In reality, history shows that during tough economic conditions right wing extremism tends to raise its ugly head. I am not a racist, but the points they raise about the gurkh's receiving suitable pensions in there "home" country is one with which I can agree. At the end of the day, it should be an interesting programme as I sometimes think that the other plastic politicians dont have the intelect to counter thought out policies, even if ill intended.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

we are just off to watch with interest at how he comes across, I think it is more dangerous to ban people from talking, in mr griffins case he seems to offend more people every time he opens his mouth, so I hope that tonight is no different!

Sx

[MKG]

Just watched him. He was badly prepared, knows bugger all about history, and was murdered on just about every single one of his rather pathetic utterances. I don't think we need ever worry too much about Nick Griffin gaining any meaningful power.

Does everyone know, by the way, that the Spitfire used on BNP literature belonged to a squadron flown by Polish pilots? He doesn't.

The man is a complete idiot, came across as a complete idiot, and was exposed brutally as a complete idiot (more by Bonnie Greer and David Dimbleby than our "astute" politicians, it must be said). The only danger, if danger is the correct word, is that the people who voted BNP in the Euro elections are also complete idiots and won't have enough brain cells to be able to identify the fact that he was outed as a liar and Hitler apologist. Thankfully, people like that will never form any kind of majority in this country.

Nick Griffin will always be a mover within the ranks of right-wing extremists (because he's marginally more clever than those people), but anyone who allows a very smart American playwright to smile at him on TV whilst smacking him round the face with his 2.2 degree in law AND SMILE BACK cannot be counted amongst the political geniuses (OK - genii) of the day.

Do not be frightened. Andy Pandy holds worse terrors.

Oh - and apparently, he sent out a mass email before the programme which blatantly libelled Peter Hain. Silly man!

Mike

[Green Aura]

Bonnie Greer was fantastic, she was so kind to him, like some benevolent aunt looking after a slightly stupid nephew (relative ages notwithstanding) while completely slating everything he said. And offering him history books! Genius.

Unfortunately the behaviour of the politicians and audience could have been better. Calling him Dick and making stupid jokes didnt help any anti-fascist argument. And when all the mainstream politicians started arguing over who would have stronger immigration policies must have had Griffin grinning inside.

However, all in all not the dreadful experience I feared.

[MuddyWitch]

Now Nick G is snivelling that 'It wasn't fair!'

My message to him:

Arrrr Diddums!

It wasn't a set up, fool. It was you seeing REAL people's views on your racist clap-trap!

MW

[MEL78]

The Beeb were right to have him on...so that the public can see him for what he is and make no mistake the delightful Bonnie Greer helped him do so.....if he is the most articulate and intelligent spokesperson they have to offer the lets hope they get air space more often so that they can be seen for the racist morons they are and people can stop kidding themselves that they are anything but skinheads in suits

[pumpy]

Having seen Q.T. last night, then i think that if Griffin is the best that the BNP have to offer,we have nothing to worry over. The man was totally out of his depth & made a complete arse of him-self. He did'nt have any points that would stand up to any kind of scrutiny, & struggled to make eye-contact with anyone.........that's the sign of someone to be not trusted. With luck he caused his party a lot of harm, & maybe they will all crawl back down the sewer where they originated.

[Rosendula]

http://www.slapnickgriffin.co.uk/
courtesy of @alandavies1 on Twitter

[MKG]

Oh yes - I enjoyed that

Mike

[Rosendula]

I also received this via Alan Davies on Twitter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QAvkFS_ ... tube_gdata