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nothing more than a witch hunt.the audience and panel interrupted and heckled throughout.no other issues were debated.jack straw said "white person" more times than i could count.nick griffin conducted himself very well under circumstances.this is a very advantageous time for all rogue politicians who have been ripping off the public for so long.it is a clever way to detract from all their expense claims etc. how stupid do they believe we are?

- Fred, stockport

it is surprizing to me that the bbc quotes the bnp having voters supporting them as a reason for having them on question time, but a few years ago they refused to allow
sien faen to even appear on any programme, they also had many supporters, whilst i find both these organisations abhorent unless they altered their views, sien faen did and became acceptable to the public, is this double standards, or is there something more sinister in this move, have we a move to the hitler era, when the bnp views created the second world war due to the apathy of the vast majority remaining silent, then they found that the media was being controlled by people of a similar view, if you want to go down that road give the bnp credibility but be prepared to pay the price, dai.

- David Rees Jones, rogiet nr caldicot monmouthshire

I sincerely hope that this one opening will give him just enough airtime that the whole country will realise what a bigoted idiot he is, and the true nature of the party he represents. I agree that democratically, he has a right to have his say, but there should be no glamorising of his views and no more respect due that that given to any other marginalised party with frankly frightening policies.

- Claire Q, Aberystwyth, UK

In modern European history, there have been two categories of regime which sought to hound people from their jobs, solely on the grounds of their political affiliation.

The communist regimes of Eastern Europe formed one group, and most notoriously, Nazi Germany and her Fascist allies formed the other.
In Communist Eastern Europe, the tactic of depriving political dissidents of their livelihood and forcing them into menial occupations developed into a finely honed instrument of state policy.

Now, in 21st Century Britain, Fascist-style political harassment is again back in vogue: the modish
preoccupation of Government Ministers, Trade Union barons, Establishment journalists and Cabinet Office bureaucrats alike.

- Ray, Coventry, England

When I see "anti fascists" and "fascists" fighting in the street, I wonder which is which.

Here we have plans, or alleged plans, for "anti fascists" to try to blockade the TV studios, presumably to try to stop Griffin from being able to talk. How democratic. You are as bad as those you wish to silence.

We, the people, are intelligent enough to be able to listen to Mr Griffin, and to either accept his opinions, or utterly reject them. It is NOT for you to make those decisions for us.

Mr Griffin may well condemn himself with the words out of his own mouth. Let it be so. Then people will know and see it for themselves. On the other hand, he may talk some sense, or at least what some people perceive to be sense. Either way, the very rights that we have to demonstrate in this country, are the very same rights that Nick Griffin has to speak and be heard.

If he simply finishes his political career by appearing on this programme, then that will achieve far more of a result for the "anti fascists", than any blockade ever will.

If only some people were intelligent enough to see it.

- Mark My Words, Manchester, England

The BNP are not a normal political party. Though they pay lip-service in public to democratic niceties you only have to read their publication or attend their events (or see them on the street) to realise they politics comes from Nazi ideology. Everytime they get the chance to spread their poison, people are attacked and murdered. They no more deserve the right to 'free speech' than a party advocating 'child abuse' or 'rape'. It is shameful that the BBC is helping to legitimise them. In the 30s we had to defeat Mosley through events like the Battle of Cable Street now we are going to have to do the same again. I do not want to see Jews and Muslims being forced out of the country or sent to death camps by Hitler's latter-day followers.

- Neil Rogall, London, UK

Contrary this report, the UAF will not be seeking to 'blockade' the BBC.

The BNP is a fascist organisation that masquerades as a legitimate political party. Publicity for its message of race hate fuels a rise in racist, Islamophobic, homophobic attacks and other hate crimes. We share the concerns of Hammersmith and Fulham Council and others, who have expressed concerns about public saftey, for this reason.

We strongly believe that the BBC should not have given the BNP this opportunity to use public service TV to promote race and religious hate, and do not accept its argument that it is in some way compelled to give a platform to racists by its Charter.

Moreover, we are horrified to learn that the BBC is planning to vet the audience to keep out Unite Against Fascism supporters. So fascists get to appear on the panel but anti-fascists cannot even appear in the audience? Will fascists be vetted out of the audience?

What would one think of the media in Nazi Germany giving Hitler a platform and refusing to allow anti-Nazi campaigners to participate in the audience?

- Sabby Dhalu, London, UK

I consider it a scandal that any group would want to blockade any event which is about democratic dialogue and discourse.

It appears that the only people who are inclined to this action are the so called "anti fascists".

In reality these groups are made up of a extreme hard core ideological left wing base who actively recruit their massed ranks from the naive undergraduate student population.

They would never even dare to stand for election and would certainly stand no chance to achieving 950,000 votes in a national election.

- Andy, Slough

Wheres George Galloway lets have him on !!

- Aicha, Manchester

I hereby solemnly prophecise that on the evening of October 22nd during and after the recording of Question Ti cme that millions of Britons will not succumb as fawning fanatics to fascism and immediatly hang the swastika from their windows and paint little black moustaches on their top lips, that non-existent black shirted legions inflamed into marching by the comments of Nick Griffin will not storm our streets, that society will notollapse into racial, religious or civil war, that democracy will not collapse, the economy implode and Dame Veral Lynn get a number 1 album.

Okay, I may be wrong about the latter.

The UAF are not marching to defend free speech, they are marching to deny free speech. They are a tiny minority of violent thugs using mob tactics and terrorism to deny the majority of ordinary British people the right to hear opinions and views that they dont like and which they believe should be silenced. They want to deny you the right to make up your own minds on the BNP. They want to tell you waht to think and deny you the right to hear those ideas that they personally dont like. They are stealing from you the ability to make your own choices. The UAF are using what used to be called 'fascism' wasnt it.

- Lee John Barnes, Kent

Funny that "Patrick Harrington, Edinburgh, Scotland" should take his user name from the notorious NF boot boy when making his point about democracy.

- Nolan, Londonist

Albert,

You should not be so quick in calling the BNP 'legitimate'. Just because they have won Council and European seats does not make them any more legitimate in my eyes. They use disgusting tactics to exploit racial tension that sometimes isn't even there in order to gain public support. They are ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. Why give them the benefits of a democracy when they themselves don't support it.

Just a few thoughts, although like yourself I am starting to feel there is a need to debate with them. I just hope Labour send someone who will make Nick Griffin look like a complete fool.

Matt.

- Matthew Zarb-Cousin, Southend, Essex

I think that the BNP should be allowed to speak. It is only then that the public will see that they are a one trick pony. It's right that there should be no disruption of the programme because if there is they will just be martyrs to the cause. I only hope that there is somebody in the audience or on the panel who has read up on the BNPs policies and can try to debate with them on their other vile attitudes!

- Ruth Emma Foley, Bury, Lancashire

I've been in the Question Time audience and it's all a set up. Those chosen to ask their pre-vetted questions are sat in numbered seats so that the panel and camera staff know where they are.All this is just hubris.No one will ask anything more controversial that the producer allows.

- Alan., Wimbledon

However poisonous his views he is an elected politician and for the crazed rent a mob lefties ( funny how they never protest against militant islam?) to disrupt debate is a travesty.
The politically correct, liberal, hand wringing, guilt ridden, white, public school/Oxbridge educated elite have a lot to answer for in ruining this country.
If Griffin is heckled he will receive a degree of sympathy.

- Alex, Chippenham, UK

I think that the use of the term "blockade" by the 'UAF' is revealing. This goes far beyond legitimate protest. The Police have a duty to see that audience, guests and workers have their rights upheld. I sympathise with Hammersmith and Fulham Council regarding the costs of Policing the protests. There is certainly an argument for costs of unusual events like this being met from central funds.

The BBC action in vetting the audience is understandable. Violence is always a real risk with the 'UAF' and they have little respect for democractic debate. I wouldn't dignify them by calling them anti-Fascist. They have a lot in common with the Nazis and Stalinists.

- Patrick Harrington, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Nazis lost the debate in 1945 - 50 million people died ensuring that. Why the BBC sees the need to give them another chance is beyond me - this whole affair is utterly shameful and an insult to those who fought against fascism.

- Ben Neal, London

If the 'anti-facists' could actually articulate their point and maybe god forbid tolerate a differentpointof view then maybe they'd get invited to take part in debates like this. They are extremely overdue in this country.

- Mark, London

No BBC programme was ever more guaranteed to become a farce.

- Dan Stratford, Doha, Qatar

How are they going to find out? Do zay hef vays of making you talk?

- Nolan, Londonist

The BBC have been controlling the question time audience and micro managing the questions they are allowed to ask for years to get the program they want. Anyone who thinks those audiences and questions aren't totally controlled is dreaming.

- Thalia, London

'But a Corporation insider said: "Question Time has been going for many years and they have very tried and tested procedures for weeding out potential troublemakers" . . . [these include] before being accepted, audience applicants are asked what political party they support, whether they back the leader of that party and their views on issues such as the Iraq war and Europe.'

- Kaze No Kae, Manchester

That is class: invite a fascist onto a programme and then make sure there's no real opposition in the audience. How do I apply to pay double licence fees?

- Guido Taylor, London, UK

hey, give em hell for me Bonnie!!!!!

- Kh, London UK

I really hope they will also be weeding out the pro-fascist demonstrators too. We all know that the BNP employ stooges to support their views at any public appearance.

There's a big difference between having ordinary members of the public in the audience who might happen to agree with Nick Griffin and having it filled with card carrying BNP members, known associates and plants.

If they must have this debate then they must weed out ALL audience members who have an agenda, pro or anti-fascist, and allow the panellists to talk to a normal audience, not a bunch of activists.

- Steven, London

As so often is the case the anti-fascist league has to resort to disruption and violence to get their point across. Whatever happened to peaceful protests, afterall, the BNP is a legitimate party?

- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland

Times are-a-changing! This time round, on Friday, Dutch MP Geert Wilders is to visit Britain after successfully appealing against a ban.

- Lesley Roberts, London

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