The BNP may appear on BBC's Question Time

[Arse]

While I'm not equivocating Sinn Féin with the BNP (it's well known that the BNP have close ties with loyalists in Norn Iron)

The Loyalist parties were subject to exactly the same broadcasting restrictions as Sinn Fein. That aside, if QT are going to allow Nick Griffin to sit on the platform alongside representatives of all the legitimate parties in the UK, (ie those who don't have an illegal constitution and aren't associated with deviants who put nail bombs in gay bars), then QT has to be very careful who they put them up against.

I'm not happy with the weak panel Griffin is up against. I would rather see someone with the kind of populist appeal among Griffin's own target market and the intelligence to debunk him, than people like Bonnie Greer and Baronness Somebody or Other. Put Griffin up against Ian Hislop, Peter Hitchens, Ayaan Hirsi Ali , Ken Clark and Arthur Scargill, not against people who will only be able to preach to the converted.

[Chauncey Gardner]

While I'm not equivocating Sinn Féin with the BNP (it's well known that the BNP have close ties with loyalists in Norn Iron)

The Loyalist parties were subject to exactly the same broadcasting restrictions as Sinn Fein. That aside, if QT are going to allow Nick Griffin to sit on the platform alongside representatives of all the legitimate parties in the UK, (ie those who don't have an illegal constitution and aren't associated with deviants who put nail bombs in gay bars), then QT has to be very careful who they put them up against.

I'm not happy with the weak panel Griffin is up against. I would rather see someone with the kind of populist appeal among Griffin's own target market and the intelligence to debunk him, than people like Bonnie Greer and Baronness Somebody or Other. Put Griffin up against Ian Hislop, Peter Hitchens, Ayaan Hirsi Ali , Ken Clark and Arthur Scargill, not against people who will only be able to preach to the converted.

two good points. well made. As an aside, there is a fascinating book about War and the media which delves into the various broadcasting bans over the years, including thatcher/hurds attempt at censoring sinn féin and other parties in Norn Iron.

I couldn't agree more with your second point about the other panellists..with the exception maybe of hitchens and hislop..both of which would be seen as "toffs" for lack of a better description.

It's going to be interesting. the ratings will be through the roof.

[Chauncey Gardner]

Sky news are rubbing their hands in glee...they're going to get hours of footage, ironically from outside BBC television centre, as they cover the growing number of protesters in london. As an aside, you can't help but wonder watching sky news sometimes if there is a producer sitting in his/her booth privately wishing someone would punch someone, so a full-scale riot would kick off...just before the 6 o clock news..

[Rum]

Its on tonight for anyone who has missed the fact.

[devogue]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the media and many politicians are making out that Question Time is some kind of hallowed portal open only to the very great and the very good.

Well that crock of shit was thrown out the window long ago, with such heavyweights as Richard Madely and Will fucking Young joining an illustrious list of criminals like Jeffrey Archer and, indeed, Peter Hain (remember the £103,156 in donations he didn't declare under electoral law while running for the deputy prime minister post?).

Nick Griffen is a hateful, spiteful little cunt in my opinion.

My opinion has been formed because I am lucky enough to have internet access and I am able to find out about him and his shitty little party by other means because until now he has not been seen on the mainstream media. Not everyone is as fortunate as me, so let the man put forward his views and his ideas. Hopefully he will look like the asshole he is, but if he doesn't and he makes headway electorally because of what happens tonight then more fool the mainstream parties. Democracy is not an exercise in cherry picking - as Paul Weller sang, the public gets what the public wants.

So Peter Hain and all the other knobheads who have called on the BNP to be censored should just back the fuck down and stop playing in to their hands. No matter how distasteful we find it, it is important for democracy that this man is heard - he has certainly more right to be on a programme like Question Time than someone as pointless as Fern Britten.

And I've got a really tasty bottle of wine to go with the show tonight and I'm looking forward to some seriously good TV drama.

[Rum]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the media and many politicians are making out that Question Time is some kind of hallowed portal open only to the very great and the very good.

Well that crock of shit was thrown out the window long ago, with such heavyweights as Richard Madely and Will fucking Young joining an illustrious list of criminals like Jeffrey Archer and, indeed, Peter Hain (remember the £103,156 in donations he didn't declare under electoral law while running for the deputy prime minister post?).

Nick Griffen is a hateful, spiteful little cunt in my opinion.

My opinion has been formed because I am lucky enough to have internet access and I am able to find out about him and his shitty little party by other means because until now he has not been seen on the mainstream media. Not everyone is as fortunate as me, so let the man put forward his views and his ideas. Hopefully he will look like the asshole he is, but if he doesn't and he makes headway electorally because of what happens tonight then more fool the mainstream parties. Democracy is not an exercise in cherry picking - as Paul Weller sang, the public gets what the public wants.

So Peter Hain and all the other knobheads who have called on the BNP to be censored should just back the fuck down and stop playing in to their hands. No matter how distasteful we find it, it is important for democracy that this man is heard - he has certainly more right to be on a programme like Question Time than someone as pointless as Fern Britten.

And I've got a really tasty bottle of wine to go with the show tonight and I'm looking forward to some seriously good TV drama.

So your not that bothered ether way then.

[Chauncey Gardner]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the media and many politicians are making out that Question Time is some kind of hallowed portal open only to the very great and the very good. Well that crock of shit was thrown out the window long ago, ....Democracy is not an exercise in cherry picking - as Paul Weller sang, the public gets what the public wants.

"But I don't get what this society wants" is probably a more appropriate line to choose from that great song.

In other words, the "political class" can't seem to fathom why the BNP got close to 1 million votes in the recent EU elections. And I don't think the kerfuffle is about people like you devogue..i.e. people who are able to dig out information for themselves about the BNP and make up your own mind. It's about the vast swathes of communities in the UK that are members of the "working class" or even the "welfare class" where entire generations of families have grown up on benefits.

I happen to think the kerfuffle is brilliant. Getting all this stuff out into the open has to be a good thing and I cannot remember a more passionate and heated debate involving "real" issues in UK politics since the front pages of the telegraph reported on what clothes Camerons wife wore to the tory conference in manchester (while the Sun's front page was dominated with a story about jordans tits, I might add).

And I completely agree with you...it's going to be great telly.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I just hope there's a question about the lies they told in their Barking and Dagenham claim, where they alleged that 'coloured' immigrants were being given £50,000 to settle in the area by the local council. I am looking forward to it as well - although i think the wine I will be drinking will be of a slightly inferior quality to Dev's!

[Chauncey Gardner]

I know this is a little sad and pathetic...but watching this on SKY right now, the anti-fascists are making a show of themselves, breaking into the BBC and several of them arrested.

[Pappa]

Who are the other panelists?

[Chauncey Gardner]

Who are the other panelists?

BONNIE GREER
NICK GRIFFIN MEP
CHRIS HUHNE MP
BARONESS WARSI
JACK STRAW MP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/q ... 315226.stm

[Pappa]

Who are the other panelists?

BONNIE GREER
NICK GRIFFIN MEP
CHRIS HUHNE MP
BARONESS WARSI
JACK STRAW MP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/q ... 315226.stm

Oh.

[Chauncey Gardner]

Oh dear...live on sky news now...It looks like a full scale riot could kick of any minute now!
The Irony is they are the mob they are the thugs, no respect for law and order, and they are the ones complaining about the BNP!

Griffin is going on the telly playing the victim.....

This is beginning to unravel quite well for the BNP so far. Why do the anti-fascists think it's a good idea to do this?

[devogue]

Oh dear...live on sky news now...It looks like a full scale riot could kick of any minute now!
The Irony is they are the mob they are the thugs, no respect for law and order, and they are the ones complaining about the BNP!

Griffin is going on the telly playing the victim.....

This is beginning to unravel quite well for the BNP so far. Why do the anti-fascists think it's a good idea to do this?

1) Fighting is good fun.

2) Drama is good fun.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Oh dear...live on sky news now...It looks like a full scale riot could kick of any minute now!
The Irony is they are the mob they are the thugs, no respect for law and order, and they are the ones complaining about the BNP!

Griffin is going on the telly playing the victim.....

This is beginning to unravel quite well for the BNP so far. Why do the anti-fascists think it's a good idea to do this?

Because their common sense has been overruled by anger and mob-mentality.