This was about one of the worst Question Time programmes I have ever seen. It was unbalanced, so didn't give Nick Griffin a chance. The BBC might have gone along with its charter and allowed him onto the programme; but they certainly stacked the odds against him.
I am NOT a BNP supporter; but I would have liked to hear what the man had to say. All we heard was pathetic talk from the likes of Jack Straw, who got on my nerves and probably the nerves of many others, and Baroness Warsi, who is a political lightweight. The other panelists were irrelevant.
Mr Dimbleby did his job badly, since he was there to moderate, not to scold. The show was altogether pathetic; it was a waste of BBC money, and certainly a waste of my time. So I'll give it the thumbs down. Though I am sure that Nick Griffin will give it the thumbs up, since I am sure it will have won him new supporters!
Streit um Fernsehauftritt eines britischen Rechtsextremisten: Sender verteidigt Einladung an Nick Griffin – Regierung gespalten
NZZ ONLINE: Der rechtsextreme Parteichef Nick Griffin hat bei seinem erstmaligen und umstrittenen Auftritt in der renommiertesten Talkshow des Landes die Rechte «gebürtiger Briten» verteidigt. Der Vorsitzende der British National Party (BNP) wurde vom Publikum teils heftig ausgebuht.
Bereits vor der Sendung am Donnerstagabend protestierten Hunderte vor dem Gelände der BBC gegen die Entscheidung, Griffin ein Forum zu bieten.
Griffin gab sich in der Sendung eher moderat. Er bestritt, den Idealen Adolf Hitlers anzuhängen. Die Frage, ob er den Holocaust je geleugnet habe, beantwortete er jedoch nur ausweichend. «Ich bin nicht von der Leugnung des Holocausts überzeugt», sagte Griffin. Er habe in der Sache seine Meinung geändert. Worin die Meinungsänderung bestand, wollte er trotz Nachfragen nicht sagen.
Als Griffin Homosexualität als «wirklich gruselig» bezeichnete, wurde er vom Publikum ausgebuht. Ein Mann rief, Griffin solle doch zum Südpol gehen. «Das ist eine farblose Landschaft. Das würde gut zu Ihnen passen», sagte der Zuschauer, woraufhin grosses Gelächter ausbrach. Tatsächlich weigerte sich die BNP noch bis vor kurzem gemäss Parteistatut, nicht-weisse Mitglieder aufzunehmen. Die Regelung wurde jedoch kürzlich von einem Gericht für nichtig erklärt. Einwanderung lehnt die BNP kategorisch ab. BBC verteidigt Einladung >>> ap | Freitag, 23. Oktober 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
BNP on BBC's Question Time: Protesters Breach Police Cordon
THE TELEGRAPH: Anti-fascist protesters demonstrating against BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time have broken through a police cordon outside BBC Television Centre.
About 30 people managed to get past police lines during struggles with officers drafted in to protect the entrance to Television Centre in White City, west London.
Some appeared to have gained entry to the building where they were pursued by police.
About 50 officers were deployed to police the demonstration Scores of protesters converged on Television Centre ahead of the filming of the programme, which is due to be screened on BBC1.
A police helicopter circled overhead as officers guarded the front entrance.
Speaking after entering the building, Mr Griffin said of the protesters: "I was rather expecting that.
"The Labour Party financed groups from all over the country bringing a mob down here today. It was always going to be a fairly big event."
Police claimed they had more than enough resources to deal with the crowd, which was expected to grow throughout the evening. >>> | Thursday, October 22, 2009
THE INDEPENDENT: The BBC tonight stood by its decision to invite British National Party leader Nick Griffin on to Question Time as its governing body debated 11th-hour attempts to block his appearance.
Tonight a specially-convened BBC Trust panel met to consider appeals against the ruling that his participation in the flagship political programme should go ahead.
There has been widespread controversy about Mr Griffin's appearance on Question Time tomorrow, with a protest rally to be held in London tonight and further demonstrations planned during the filming of the show.
Today an academic warned Mr Griffin's appearance could boost support for the BNP as happened when French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen made his prime-time TV debut in the 1980s.
But Ric Bailey, the BBC's chief political adviser, said the corporation would have been breaking its charter if it had not treated the BNP with impartiality. >>> Press Association | Wednesday, October 21, 2009
BBC Is Right to Allow BNP on Question Time, Says Mark Thompson
THE GUARDIAN: Censorship is decision for ministers not broadcasters, insists corporation chief
The BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, today robustly defends the corporation's decision to invite the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, on to Question Time, and challenges the government to change the law if it wants to censor the far-right group.
Writing in the Guardian, Thompson says ministers would have to impose a broadcasting ban on the party – as Margaret Thatcher did with Sinn Féin in the 1980s – before the BBC would consider breaching its "central principle of impartiality".
Griffin was not asked on to the flagship current affairs show out of "some misguided desire to be controversial", he says, but because it is the public's right "to hear the full range of political perspectives".
He adds: "It is a straightforward matter of fact that ... the BNP has demonstrated a level of support which would normally lead to an occasional invitation to join the panel on Question Time. It is for that reason alone ... that the invitation has been extended." >>> Robert Booth | Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
BNP Leader Nick Griffin Accuses Police of Abandoning His Security at BBC
THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, has accused the police of refusing to discuss security arrangements for his visit to the BBC on Thursday.
Anti-fascist campaigners plan to stage a protest against Mr Griffin's presence on Question Time when it is filmed at the BBC's Television Centre in west London.
Mr Griffin said the party has formally requested that the Metropolitan Police appoint a liaison officer so he could discuss police arrangements for his entrance to the studio.
He said a "middle ranking" officer told him, "It's your problem, not ours."
Mr Griffin added: "I merely wanted to arrange a meeting to discuss the situation and for the police to appoint a liaison officer so that I can actually get into the building safely.
“In such a situation, this is standard procedure and a perfectly responsible thing to do but they refused outright. It was explained that the reason for the request was to ensure there would be a minimum of public disruption outside the BBC studios on Thursday.
“I can only deduce that the police will simply stand and watch if, as is quite likely, there is disruption when I arrive at the studio. I asked the police to put this in writing but they refused.
"This is an outrageous dereliction of police duty and I am minded to seek a judicial review in view of this action, or rather in-action." >>> Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Leaked Membership List and Generals Renew Pressure on BNP
TIMES ONLINE: The British National Party came under attack from two fronts today as a group of retired generals accused it of hijacking the Armed Forces and its entire membership list was again leaked onto the internet.
The party said that it was the victim of an orchestrated campaign timed to coincide with the scheduled appearance of its leader, Nick Griffin, on BBC's Question Time this week.
The generals, including the past two heads of the Army, accused the BNP of tarnishing the Armed Forces' reputation by associating itself with the sacrifices of servicemen.
In a letter seen by The Times, they wrote: "We call on all those who seek to hijack the good name of Britain’s military for their own advantage to cease and desist. The values of these extremists — many of whom are essentially racist — are fundamentally at odds with the values of the modern British military, such as tolerance and fairness."
The broadside reflected widespread frustration within the Forces at the fact that the BNP is allowed to portray itself as the party of patriots in its literature, borrowing military images and pictures of Winston Churchill.
But Mr Griffin quickly launched a counter-attack, saying that his party shared the values of the "old" British military, not the new "PC British defence establishment". With video >>> Philippe Naughton and Aled Thomas | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Former Senior Military Figures on New List of 'BNP Members' as BBC Reviews Leader Griffin's Question Time Appearance
DAILY MAIL: 'Members' include military figures, doctors, academics / BNP denounces document as 'malicious forgery' / BBC Trust review Griffin's involvement after Hain letter
Former senior military figures are among members of the British National Party, according to a new list published today.
The leaked document of those affiliated to the far-right party, which was posted on the web, includes several majors, scores of doctors and some professors.
It purports to show the membership as of April 15 this year and lists names, street addresses, post codes, mainline telephone and mobile phone numbers.
But the BNP denounced the list as a 'malicious forgery', insisting it is 'unequivocally' not genuine and many of the names had never been in touch with the party.
This is the third time in recent years that such a list has been published and comes days before leader Nick Griffin is due to appear on BBC's Question Time. >>> | Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Last-ditch Bid to Prevent BNP Appearance on Question Time
THE INDEPENDENT: Hain warns BBC of threat of legal challenge after inviting Griffin on to programme
Peter Hain, who has written a letter to the corporation warning it will run a 'serious risk' of a legal challenge if it allows Nick Griffin to participate. Photo: The Independent
A cabinet minister has launched a last-minute bid to block the leader of the British National Party (BNP) from appearing on BBC 1's Question Time. Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary, who has already criticised the BBC for including the far-right party in this Thursday's programme, has written a letter to the corporation warning it will run a "serious risk" of a legal challenge if it allows Nick Griffin to participate.
The BNP leader apparently accepted last week that his party's constitution may breach race-relations legislation. Mr Griffin agreed to use "all reasonable endeavours" to change his party's rules barring black, Asian and Jewish people, after being taken to court by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It has agreed not to accept new members until its membership rules are altered.
However, its constitution will not be reformed before next month, while the case against it has been adjourned until January. In a letter to the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, Mr Hain said that the corporation would be offering coverage to an illegally constituted party by handing Mr Griffin a place on Thursday's Question Time panel. The BBC maintains that its decision to invite Mr Griffin was made to fulfil its obligation to offer impartial coverage after the BNP won two seats in the European parliament in June. >>> Michael Savage, Political correspondent | Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Nick Griffin: Sikhs and Hindus Support BNP
THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Griffin has claimed that his Question Time invitation marks the BNP's arrival "in the British political system", as he argued that some Sikhs and Hindus now support the far-right party.
The BNP leader, who is due appear on BBC One's flagship political debate programme this week, said that many ethnic minority Britons agreed with the party's hard-line opposition to immigration.
Amid increasing public scrutiny of the BNP's racist policies, Mr Griffin contrasted "civically British" minority communities who lived here "legally and legitimately", with Islamic "colonists" who wanted to impose their views on the rest of society. >>> Matthew Moore | Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
TV Union Plans BNP Question Time Protest
THE INDEPENDENT: The TV technicians' union today attacked the BBC's decision to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin on to Question Time and pledged to join a demonstration against the recording of the programme.
Bectu said it would support any of its members who refused to work on the programme, which will be transmitted on October 22.
General secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "We believe there should be no media coverage of the BNP and I have raised this issue with the director general, Mark Thompson. >>> Alan Jones, Press Association | Monday, September 28, 2009
BNP Welcomes Chance to Appear on BBC's Question Time
THE GUARDIAN: Other parties say Nick Griffin appearance will give them opportunity to challenge views of far-right party
The British National party has welcomed the BBC's decision to allow its leader, Nick Griffin, to appear on Question Time following the far-right party's success in the European elections.
Although the BBC has yet to issue a formal invitation, the corporation is preparing to ask Griffin to join the panel show and is already consulting other parties about appearing with him.
The party, which won two seats in the European parliament in June, has not appeared on the programme before. Some parties, including Labour, have previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race. A spokesman for the party said yesterday: "Obviously it's good news. Of late, a large proportion of Question Time has been devoted to assaults on the BNP, so it's rather welcome that we are allowed to defend ourselves."
He attacked the Labour party over its past refusal to share a stage with its members and accused the government of using its equality watchdog to attack the BNP.
Referring to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's decision to take the BNP to court over its constitution – which states that only "'indigenous Caucasian' and defined 'ethnic groups' emanating from that race" are allowed to join – he said: "If anybody has an excuse for not sharing a platform with a political party, it should be us and the Labour party, but we believe in the democratic process."
After years of discussions, the BBC is understood to have decided in February that the BNP would have to be allowed to appear on Question Time if it attracted significant support in the European elections. Other smaller parties elected to the European parliament, such as the Green party and Ukip, have been represented.
A BBC spokeswoman said it was obliged to treat all legal political parties registered with the Electoral Commission with due impartiality. "Our audiences – and the electorate – will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians," she said. >>> Sam Jones | Sunday, September 06, 2009
THE SUNDAY TIMES: THE BBC has provoked controversy by giving the British National party a platform for the first time on Question Time, its top current affairs programme.
Nick Griffin, the BNP leader who was elected to the European parliament in June, is expected to be on the show in October. The corporation has decided that the far-right party deserves more airtime because it has demonstrated “electoral support at a national level”.
The move has caused consternation among politicians, with some Labour MPs and at least one cabinet minister pledging to boycott Question Time. They fear the BNP will use the publicity to promote a racist agenda.
The change in policy has also triggered dissent within the BBC. One senior correspondent, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s barmy ... Public servants can be sacked for membership of the BNP and yet the BBC wants to give them airtime with the main political parties.”
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.” >>> Marie Woolf, Whitehall Editor | Sunday, September 06, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
BBC Pays Damages to Muslim Leader
BBC: The BBC has agreed to pay £45,000 in damages to the head of the Muslim Council of Britain over a libellous claim in the Question Time programme.
The claim was made by a panellist on the programme, who accused Muhammad Abdul Bari of implicitly condoning the kidnap and killing of British soldiers.
Mr Bari argued this was untrue, citing his public condemnation of the killing of British troops in Iraq in 2007.
The BBC accepted the argument and apologised unreservedly. >>> | Thursday, July 16, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
BBC Offers £30,000 and an Apology for Question Time 'Slur' on Islamic Leaders over Anti-war Protest
Former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore 'slurred' the Muslim Council of Britain while appearing as a panellist on Question Time. Photo courtesy of MailOnline
MAIL Online: The BBC has offered to pay £30,000 and apologise to the Muslim Council of Britain after airing claims that it encourages the killing of British troops.
The Corporation caved in after a panellist on the Question Time TV programme accused the country's most influential Muslim organisation of failing to condemn attacks on soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The broadcaster was threatened with legal action over comments by former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore during a debate about Islamic protests which marred a soldiers' homecoming parade in Luton.
Mr Moore blamed the MCB's leadership for its apparent reluctance to condemn the killing and kidnapping of British soldiers overseas. He went on to claim that it thought it was a 'good thing' to kill troops.
Faced with the threat of a writ, the BBC made an offer of 'amends' and an apology on the Question Time website. But this has been rejected and the MCB is demanding an apology on air.
The Corporation's decision to pay out will raise eyebrows in Whitehall, where ministers have refused to settle a similar defamation claim over a letter written by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.
A BBC insider said the move has also angered Mr Moore, who was not consulted over the legal response to the complaint or even informed that an offer to settle had been made.
Question Time is recorded an hour before broadcast specifically so that legal advisers can check its content for possible libels. No legal worries were expressed over Mr Moore's remarks, which were seen as provocative but not defamatory. >>> By Paul Revoir and Abul Taher | Friday, May 29, 2009
Apology for one and not the other: Charles Moore's words compared to Hazel Blears's letter. Image courtesy of MailOnline
BBC: BBC Offers Apology to Muslim Council of Britain over Guest's Remarks
The BBC has offered £30,000 and an apology to the Muslim Council of Britain after airing accusations that it encouraged the killing of British troops.
The corporation offered the settlement after a Question Time panellist accused the council of failing to condemn attacks on British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Charles Moore, a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, made the comments on the programme in March during a debate about Islamic protests at a soldiers’ homecoming parade in Luton. He claimed that the council thought it was a “good thing, even an Islamic thing” to kill troops.
The council, an umbrella organisation representing about 500 Islamic bodies in Britain, said that his claims were a “total lie” and threatened the BBC with legal action.
It pointed to a 2007 interview with its secretary-general, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, published in a national newspaper, in which he categorically condemned attacks on British soldiers.
Last night Dr Bari said: “These kinds of statements are very damaging, and we received many complaints from our Muslim supporters who said they were extremely offended by the comments. >>> Hannah Fletcher | Saturday, May 30, 2009
