[Update] BNP on Question Time this week
 

This will only increase my dislike of the BBC.

iplayer was starting to make me think the licence fee was worth the money, then they go and do this.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8240206.stm

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

As much as I dislike them, they are a legitimate registered political party, so I'm having a hard time seeing why they should be excluded.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

The Nazi party in Germany was a legitimate party as well and look where that got us. Why does this country never learn from past mistakes.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

IIRC Martin McGuinness has appeared on it and I'm sure that he didn't become a leader in the IRA by just supplying nice sandwiches at the Army Council meetings(or whatever).

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Don't see the problem with this since they are a legitimate party.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Can anyone else see how much of an amazing opportunity this is for the BNP to show how inept and pathetic they are?

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Yes, that's another reason why I'm all for it :D

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Personally I am interested in hearing what they have to say on questiontime I mean after all they must be doing something right after gaining all those council seats and being elected to European parliament.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

I thought the BBC's impartiality was beyond reproach? The fact they say "may consider" inviting the BNP shows they aren't as much as they should be.

As others have suggested they are a legitimate party. With all due respect if people think that banning them or marginalising them is the best way of dealing with them then they are either naive or foolish.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

will the program come from a city with known racial tensions or some peaceful little corner of tree hugger suburbia ?

could be an interesting debate cant wait :erm:

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Hiroki, the BNP gained 3 seats out of nearly 2400 contested in the 2009 Council Elections - not really a lot, is it?;)

btw, I look forward to the BNP being on Question Time.

---------- Post added at 13:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:04 ----------

From the article in the OP
and

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

I'd like to see them put forward their ideas on current topics.

They'll either be good, bad or indifferent.... they're politicians after all.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

I had this argument with a very prominent union leader a few years ago, who'd previously always refused, as a matter of principle, to debate with the BNP and their ilk.

The point I successfully made to him was that the best way to defeat the likes of the BNP is to lay bare their policies and arguments NOT to turn them into 'victims' of political bias and, in so doing, make their argument for them. I hate the BNP but I'd defend their right to exist and would like to be able to debate their views and challenge their policies.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

I did read that but I think its a long way from impartiality. The BNP formed in 1982, only 27 years later being considered? If they were impartial they would have made sure all parties got equal exposure or at the very least some exposure.

And also if no parties can dictate who cannot be on the show, why the need for "talks" with other parties?

I can understand why the BBC doesn't want to touch the BNP - its a PR nightmare for them. However they can't then claim to be impartial by excluding them.

Re: BNP 'may appear on Question Time'
 

Also, IIRC, although they won two seats at the European Parliament, the actual number of votes Griffin & Brons received was lower than the number of votes the BNP candidates for those constituencies received at the previous European elections...but although their actual number of votes was lower than last time, the total number of votes was lower also (fewer people bothering to vote at all), & so the BNP's share was higher than before & so they scraped in under the PR system used.


They may have formed back then, but it took several years before they appeared even remotely acceptable, given the BNP of old used to be quite open about its racist policies e.g. forced repatriation.

Plus of course it is only relatively recently that they have made any kind of real electoral gains. Why would anyone have given them a platform like QT years ago, when they had zero seats at all.

How many other fringe parties appear on QT?

Re. "talks" with other parties... Well, if other parties say "We won't be on it if they are!", what else can the BBC do? Have the BNP represented on the show, but with zero members of other parties, or have the various other parties, but with no BNP presence?


As others have said though, I would like the BNP to appear on it, then people can see them for what they are.