[Update] BNP on Question Time this week

Sirius · 06-09-2009, 12:05

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

danielf · 06-09-2009, 12:12

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.

Sirius · 06-09-2009, 12:17

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.

nomadking · 06-09-2009, 12:17

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).

Hiroki · 06-09-2009, 12:20

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

Russ · 06-09-2009, 12:24

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

danielf · 06-09-2009, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

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

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

Hiroki · 06-09-2009, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

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

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.

punky · 06-09-2009, 13:14

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.

papa smurf · 06-09-2009, 13:56

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

**Hugh** · 06-09-2009, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

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.

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 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

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.

From the article in the OP

Quote:

Talks are being held with other parties, some of whom have previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race.
But the BBC says no parties can dictate who should not be included on the show

and

Quote:

The BBC's chief political adviser, Ric Bailey, said the BNP had now "demonstrated evidence of electoral support at a national level."
He said this would be "reflected" in the amount of coverage the party received on BBC programmes such as Question Time.
Mr Bailey added: "The BBC is obliged to treat all political parties registered with the Electoral Commission and operating within the law with due impartiality."

Taf · 06-09-2009, 14:11

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.

Osem · 06-09-2009, 14:19

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.

punky · 06-09-2009, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

From the article in the OP

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.

Tezcatlipoca · 06-09-2009, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

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

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

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.

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.