• Army: Generals condemn BNP for 'hijacking' military images
• TV: BNP attacks non-white Question Time panellists
• BNP: 16,000 members exposed on leaked list

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Banning the BNP from Question would be fascism at it worst. The BNP are a legitimate political party that the Labour party tried to ban by creating dozens of new laws to make them illegal hence break the party up, this is a huge problem and stinks of communism. Just because the ultra left regime do not agree with BNP politics does not mean they have the right to pick and choose our options and rights.

- Democracy Please, Northolt, London

Rick Blackman, london

I despise the BNP but you really don't understand fascism. If you go and look up fascism and national socialism (the same thing) you will see that the present labour government are infact the fascists. The way they try to suppress people and especially the opposition just displays the cowardice that is representative of most fascists. Fascists also believe in the privatisation of profit and the socialisation of debt which is exactly what has happened (and is still happening) in the banking world.

- Tom W, London

Let this man speak, Or is it not a free country.
If the other political parties addressed the real issues that do concern British People the BNP would not be gathering such a following.
Tory and Labour continue to sit on the fence when Race, Political correctness are addressed.
Both of these big issues have and still are causing major problems in the UK
BBC, be sure to have a balanced audience.

- Robert Fidler, Newbury, Berkshire, England

Hain is opening his campaign to be the next leader of the Labour Party. His chances will be the greater the more the BNP take votes in the coming general election. He is saying loudly and clearly that Labour will lose badly. Unfortunately for him there will be many more leaders of the party before they regain power, if ever.

- Jonas, Paris, France

The gas chambers of Nazi Germany were full of dead people who said “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it”
Fascism is like a fire and will burn and destroy all in its path irrespective of your romantic notions of freedom of speech . Fires need oxygen, take this away and stamp on it and it/they will die.
The BBC by clearly chasing ratings are giving these Nazis the air they need to grow.

We do not allow the leaders of of paedophile rings on our screens as they are abhorrent and not representative of a democracy, likewise we do not show pictures of soldiers or civilians blown up in war zones as they contravene an unwritten censorship on 'bad taste' agreed on by the overwhelming majority of people here & in the rest of the world.
The BNP are not like other parties. They-like the tradition they come from-have no interest in the democratic process, they seek to smash it. We give democratic rights to people who believe in and protect democratic rights, not to those who wish to destroy them. Turkeys should not vote for Christmas, The record of ALL Fascist organisations re freedom of speech is a deafening silence. Don't be fooled by their lies they are not like other parties therefore we do not treat them the same

- Rick Blackman, london

In the last 12 years of New Labour we have had an increasing number of government functions contracted out to the private corporate sector. We are now seeing the state harnessing the power of the judiciary, the mass media and latterly the military in its cause of crushing political opposition. Now that is what I would call 'FASCISM'.

- David Moon, East Sussex, UK

The function of the BBC Trust is to represent the interests of licence payers. If they cave in to political pressure and censor opinions, no matter how distasteful, the word "Trust" becomes a complete misnomer.

What gives Mr Hain and his ilk the right to decide upon the opinions that we may or may not hear?

- John C, Leatherhead, UK

I don't like or approve of the BNP....BUT, I refuse to have the likes of Peter Hain telling us what to do. Both men seem to be equally intolerant.

- Janicebyrne, sussex

Re:"I can't beleive that the Labour party are no longer challenging the Tories - Hansel, London"

I think it's because the Labour party deserted the working class.

Now it realises it needs them. If only to come a respectable second.

But with it's record on immigration and it's mindless adherence to multiculturalism it has no chance of winning them bacck.

- Phil, Manchester

I would prefer to listen to Nick Griffin and make up my own mind, than have Peter Hain attempt to make up my mind for me.

- Martin, London

Well said - John, dundee...what has happened to freedom of speach in this country!!! They talk about democracy...yeah right!!!

- Mark Egan, Sidcup

Ban Griffin from QT and it will be Christmas come early for him. It would give support for the BNP a massive boost from a British public, who are sick and tired of being told how to live their lives and how to think by this stinking, Britain-hating government whilst having their collective voice completely ignored.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster

“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it”

We need Voltaire and we get Hain.

- Tv, Hounslow, UK

Sent the following to the BBC Trust -

I understand from the newspapers that the Trust is considering preventing Nick Griffin from appearing on this show. I would like to register my disagreement with this attitude as unfair, restrictive and narrow-minded.

Let me begin by saying that I am no supporter of the BNP, its policies or anything that they stand for. I have no intention of voting for them or ever having anything to do with them. However, I do fundamentally disagree with how they are being publicly bullied by the establishment and the media. I believe that this is making them look like martyrs and gives them the credibility they do not deserve.

They are part of the democratic process, and any attempt at banning people from that process, purely on the grounds that you or I disagree with them, smacks of dictatorship. It is a hideous way of dealing with views like theirs which is bound to backfire, especially in times like these.

My belief is that responding to racism in particular, and disagreements in general, can only be done through talking and open discussion in public for everyone to see and hear. We are intelligent people who will make up our own minds based upon what we know is true. If you treat us like children we will draw our own conclusions accordingly.

I think that the BBC should trust its viewers and give them the opportunity to have the truth confirmed for themselves.

- Paul, London

I would like the opportunity to judge Nick Griffin for myself. That is what a show like Question Time is for.

- Bloke, Lambeth

The lessons of history is that trying to suppress or ignore fascists simply makes them stronger. They have to be publicly confronted and then exposed for what they are. That is how they can be defeated, anything else just helps them in the end.

- Matt Davis, London, UK

This is a free country and every one has the right to air thie views, that is the big problem with freedom it comes with a massive responsibility to protect the rights of those to air thier views even if those views made your blood boil. there is no point in hiding this man and his views let him air them let him show the world just how in my opinion odious his views are in other words let him hang himself!

- Christopher, London

Nolan has a point although I suspect Screaming Lord Sutch lost more deposits!

Thing to mention is that in the London elections the BNP polled in excess of 5% of the vote and in the Europeans in some regions around 15%, so past performance is no indicator of future returns.

As Nolan has in the past made analogies between the BNP and Hitler perhaps he should consider this. In the 1920s the National Socialist party was on the very fringe of German politics and only really gained a foothold following the Wall Street Crash. By every bodies omission we have just suffered the largest economic crisis since then and people have been losing their jobs by the bucket load. The major difference is that in 1920s Germany there were not a million illegal immigrants nor did they have an open door immigration policy, to fund big businesses demand for cheap labour and at the same time has changed the fabric of many communities, perhaps irreversibly and the locals aren't not happy.

Personally I don't think the country will return a single BNP MP but I expect that their and UKIP's share of the vote will increase and it will be the 2015 (ish) election, which will see their first MP if, whoever is power continues with a broadly similar immigration stance as the current lot.

- Mark, South-East London

I am perplexed as to why the Zambian born Peter Hain lives lavishly in Britain at the taxpayers expense. This former Liberal party member now Labour Minister would surely have wished to return to the utopian South Africa since it became a one man one vote entity in 1994 and for which he campaigned so tirelessly. But alas no, he continues to live here in splendour and pontificate his curious idea of freedom of speech on the native British public. Hypocrisy I hear you cry!

- Lorene Roberts, Benfleet, England

Yorkshire saw the highest BNP poll, 9.8%, with Griffin getting 8%. The party polled 8.9% in the North East and 8.6% in both the West and East Midlands, but the share was not enough to win a place in those regions.

They polled 6.1% in the Eastern region, 5.5% in London, 5.4% in Wales, 4.4% in the South East and 3.9% in the South West
The Labour vote crashed from 45% to 25% in Barnsley, where the BNP share climbed from 8% to 17%.

Nolan please get your facts/figures correct please, and you can't argue these the Gaurdian printed them.

- Daisy Willets-Harper, London, W8

The only thing that will stop the BNP gaining more support is a decent british government,we all know that isn't going to materialise,so the British National Party will continue to grow whether you like it or not.

- Democracy Seeker, Bent Kent.

It is Hain who is a facist for trying to suppress free speach. Yet labour permit muslims to wave banners saying death to our armed forces when they parade in the UK upon their return from Afghanistan. Therefore Hain is a labour facist hypocrite.

- John, dundee

Although my impression is that BNP members may not infrequently be narrow minded or not very bright, it seems also that if - despite this - on certain issues they are gaining support against other parties then maybe those parties should listen to what the British people are telling them.

We in Britain must champion democracy, which includes freedom of speech; and yet it appears that various parties - not least of all our current government - would rather render THMSELVES fascists by the very act of trying to "ban" these people's views and their right to express them.

If the BNP really are so bad and useless then fine; let them speak their thoughts ... and get laughed at! After all, it is their right.

- Michael W, London, UK

@ Nolan, Londonist

".. 0.7% of the popular vote .."

Given that only 0.4% of the whole of the UK is black, are you suggesting that the views of a minority group be completely ignored?

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

How dare the BBC decide who we shall be allowed to listen to! This is supposed to be a democracy - where we are entitled to hear views from others and make our own minds up about the content.
Why are they so afraid of the BNP?
Give them this wonderful opportunity to hang themselves!

- Maggie, camden town

The irony is that all the fascists trying to ban the BNP are the real bigots here. Much as I hate the BNP we should have open debate with them and crush their bigoted theories and philosophies. People like Hain frighten me as they are trying to suppress free speech. So how can he criticise the BNP when he is behaving in a fascistic and dictatorial manner himself? These people (like Hain) just speak in riddles and contradict their own beliefs - they do not practice what they preach. What is more, nulabour politicians seem to spend their time trying to crush any opposition rather than intelligently debating with these people.

- Tom W, London

Is it really necessary to have a picture of Nick Griffin snarling and Bonnie Greer smiling?
I think a lot of the establishment are worried that Mr Griffin will come across as articulate and educated rather than as some mindless skinhead.
However distasteful his views on some issues may be, we live in a democracy, his party have MEPs and therefore the BBC must give him an opportunity to defend his party on national television. Unfortunately, I think Mr Griffin will come out of it rather well as the other panelists will do little more than make the same point over and over on the race issue rather than engage in a lively debate on different issues

- Jonathan, London

I believe the BNP got more than 1 million votes in the European elections. Ban them from QT, and see their share of the vote double; not because people agree with their views, but because people are fed up with being told what to think, believe and feel.

- Beatriz, London

Before the overwhelming number of posts on this discussion get too carried away, let's please not forget we are talking about a handful of fringe cranks, who at their best have achieved less than 0.7% of the popular vote in general elections and who have blown more money on lost deposits than you can possibly imagine.

- Nolan, Londonist

Hain is wrong on this. We have to stand up to these BNP facists and expose their lies. That means sharing a platform with them, however unpalatble it may be. All this furrore over QT is free publicity for the BNP and adding to their membership list. Stop it now.

- Dhan Raj, Basildon

If the BBC bans Griffin's appearance, which I always thought the most likely outcome, it will prove once and for all that the BBC is no longer independent of Government control, as so many other once democratic bodies have now proved under this regime.

- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK

Many abhor Nick Griffin's views. Judging by his electoral success at least quite a few probably support his views. A number of us (myself included) do not really know his views, though based on what little I do know the BNP views on most social and economic matters do seem to be ultra socialist, not at all right wing (we know how they are described by the likes of Hain but that is something different). He has been duly elected as an MEP and leads a political party that is not proscribed. I do appreciate that it can be dangerous to permit freedom of thought, speech or action: witness the rise of the Nazis, but we are a very long way from that scenario. Even under the present regime we have vestiges of freedom left. Lets hear what the man has to say.

- Gordon (No Relation), London UK

Pity the liarbour Government can't put pressure on the BBC regarding the sky high salaries of top management.

It just goes to show, they can put pressure on the BBC when it suits them.

New liarbour seem very scared of the BNP, I can't begin to wonder why.

Rememeber in New liarbours Britain you can have free speech and thought, as long as they agree with it.

- P Staker, London.

I, and I suspect most other people want to see how our elected leaders and servants of the people, propose to confront the BNP.

If the likes of Peter Hain lack the spine for such a confrontation, then they would best serve the people by stepping down and allowing someone else to do the job they were elected to. Either way, democracy must prevail, and must be seen to do so in this and all other matters involving the people

- John, Twickenham

Nu-Labour's Nazi like attacks on our freedom of speech and use of propaganda broadcasting channel (BBC)are truly frightening.
They keep telling us we're living in a democracy but we all know we are living under a Communist totalitarian dictatorship.
ZaNu-Labour you idiots and are playing right into the hands of the BNP - They must be allowed a platform for debate so they can be exposed for the racists they are.

- Anon Pc, Camden Compound,Londongrad,EUSSR

I remember a few years back when Blair was trying to get the original EU constitution through, and Peter Hain was the Minister for Europe. Hain appeared hundreds of times in the media, repeating the lie that the constitution was "just a tidying up exercise". I hate the BNP, but one of the reasons for its' popularity is the endless lies and evasion of real issues, told by politicians like Peter Hain.

- Londonken, London

If labour had their way we would all be locked in our homes with tape over our mouths.

If the BNP are banned from Question Time it will be playing straight into their hands. I am not a BNP supporter just a believer in free speech which is being seriously eroded in this country.

- Rosemary Mitchell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Let Griffin go on air and make a berk of himself. That will be far better than banning him and handing him an (im)moral victory.

I don't agree with any 1-trick parties like the BNP, SNP, Greens, UKIP etc, but democracy allows everyone a platform. The last time I looked, we still live in something vaguely resembling a democracy.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one

Why not invite Peter Hain onto the panel?

So what happened to democracy its no good others quoting the USSR when it was America that bred McCarthyism!!!

- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex

When will the Nu Labour thought police come knocking to check whether citizens are saying bad things about The Beloved Party in private or hanging "off message" posters on their own walls?

- Thomas, London

If the IRA were brought in from the political cold after launching a terrorist campaign for thirty years, then what is the message to the BNP.

- Dave, NW London

It is high time that the BNP were held to account. Let them go onto Question Time and be thoroughly humiliated.

- Sg, London, UK

We live in a communist country already! In the USSR at the height of communist rule 60% where employed by the state, in Britain in 2009 52% are employed by the state. So stopping a TV programme is mere trifle.

- Mike,, London

Anyone in a democratic society has the right to air thier views even if you don't agree with it. It will make a change from the BBC pumping out thier usual left wing propaganda.

- El Del, Valencia Spain

I can't beleive that the Labour party are no longer challenging the Tories (as the next election is a foregone conclusion, even by their own admittence). Now they appear to be happy scrapping with fringe parties, providing extreme points of view with priceless publicity. The government must be very concerned that the BNP do actually pose a threat to their consituences in working class areas, otherwise they should have let Thursday go by without comment and subsequently a much smaller audience.

- Hansel, London

For UK, read East Germany.

- Steve, London

I would`ve thought that the BBC would welcome the extra ratings that a BNP candidate would bring - even move QT to Saturday prime time, up against Xfactor - after all, the Ross experience proves that this criteria is what REALLY matters to them, doesn`t it ?
Free speech comes a close second, though, we`re sure (public opinion comes about tenth)!

- Darius, London UK

This to me is simple: ban the BNP from Question Time on Thursday and the damage that it will do will go far beyond any damage Nick Griffin's appearance could.

I implore the Trust through these column, do not ban the BNP, otherwise it will give the BNP such a boost - a big stick to hit the BBC with - the like of which it can only dream about.

- Andreas Precoupoulos, London, England

Forgive me, but I thought we lived in a democracy?

I'm with the argument that he is democratically elected, let him speak and face questions and arguments against his outrageous views. It will be extremely interesting to see how he fairs.

Perhaps thats the problem, there seem to be a large majority running scared that believe that if he gets the opportunity to speak on this platform that he will win votes. As much as I would find that outcome deeply depressing and uncomfortable to live with, we have to accept that we do live in a democracy and shouldn't be gagging anyone's right of speech unless there is a genuine legal reason such as inciting violence, terrorism, crime etc.

Sadly all Peter Hain and the UAF have done in their protests is give this awful man and odious party even more publicity. Who are the real fools here?

- Mandy, London

If Labour and the Far Left had their way, all opposition would be suppressed in such a draconian manner. Welcome to the UK-SSR.

By the way 'Unite Against Fascism', I guess the irony of your group is completely lost on you?

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

In a democracy whether we like it or not to gag a party because we don't agree with it is tantamount to the worst excess of a totalitarian state. While our stomachs churn if you belive in the principles of democracy you have to let the man on - after all his party has attracted 100,000's of votes - more of an endorsement than the comdeians and celebs that enliven the panel from time to time.

- Christian Ball, London, UK

BNP 1-0 Democracy

- John, Twickenham

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