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BBC pledges to censor BNP leader’s racist claims
Paul Waugh and Kiran Randhawa22 Oct 2009
The BBC scrambled to reassure the public today that BNP leader Nick Griffin would not be allowed to use his Question Time debut to incite racial hatred.
The Corporation insisted that the flagship programme would “comply with the law” and suggested that any racist remarks would be cut from transmission.
But protesters and MPs warned that the Corporation would have “blood on its hands” if there was a spike in racist attacks following the show.
Gordon Brown broke his silence on the issue to slam the BNP as a “racist and sectarian” party.
The Prime Minister also admitted for the first time that the recession was fuelling support for the party's extremist and simplistic message.
The Prime Minister declared that he had a “duty” to expose the far-Right party's true nature and backed Justice Secretary Jack Straw's decision to appear on the Question Time panel.
There was a huge police presence outside BBC TV Centre today as 800 demonstrators expressed their anger at the free publicity for the BNP. Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “We believe putting a Nazi and a racist on national TV and treating them as a normal political party means there is going to be an increase in attacks on black and Asian people in this country.”
In a statement to the Evening Standard, the BBC said that it took seriously a warning from the protesters and former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone that the programme could lead to a rise in attacks on blacks, Asians and Jews.
“As well as ensuring due impartiality, the BBC's responsibility is to ensure the programme complies with the law and does not inflame racial hatred and this is something we take very seriously,” it said. “We will manage ourselves and the panel with that in mind, but it is up to individuals themselves to be responsible for their own actions.”
There was speculation today that the programme's guests — Mr Griffin, Mr Straw, Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne, Tory peer Baroness Warsi and American writer Bonnie Greer — would be smuggled secretly to an early recording to avoid any protests. One panellist revealed that they had been told to be ready “any time” this afternoon.
Mr Brown had previously avoided the row for fear of being seen to interfere with the BBC's impartiality. But today he told a West Yorkshire radio station: “At every point, I believe we have got a duty to expose the BNP for what are racist and sectarian politics.
“Anybody who listens to what they are really about will find that what they are saying is unacceptable.”
Mr Brown added: “In a recession, people are tempted to vote against their traditional voting patterns like voting Labour, which we regret. But I want to persuade people that voting for the BNP is not the right thing to do.
“For a political party to exclude people on the grounds of race is completely unacceptable. Their views about mixed marriages and everything else are unacceptable for the modern world.”
The Cabinet was still split over the issue. Welsh secretary Peter Hain said the appearance was an “early Christmas present” for the BNP.
Mr Livingstone warned that the BBC would have a “moral responsibility” for any spike in racist violence that followed the show. He said: “When Nick Griffin speaks or when they get elected, what we see is an increase in racial attacks. He comes on, says his bit, does his bit but for the angry racist, it's the trigger that turns into an attack.”
Reader views (19)
Presumably, if it turns nasty, it will be UAF and those that want the BNP banned that will start the violence. All we need to do is look at the aggression of the anti Israel mob earlier in the year, the call for violence and Wilders and the the same against the Danish newspaper. The Muslim extremists and the Left have done every bit possible to ensure that the BNP is now in a position to have it's leader on BBC.
Thank you you lot, you caused it all and people like me (Jewish and gay) now have the BNP to contend with, as well of course, as the Muslim extremists who have made their bigoted opinions very clear.
- Dep, London, 22/10/2009 19:42
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has it occured to anyone that gormless would be delighted to see an ascent of the bnp as it would pull away loony tory votes and assure him of another 5 years of wrecking the uk?this all plays into the hands of labour very nicely and wouldn't be a bit surprised if they were putting the beeb up to doing this...think people...
- Amoren, luxembourg, 22/10/2009 19:36
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if the BBC censor any racist comments they will actually make him sound more palatable to the voter!
- Andy, london, 22/10/2009 16:16
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I believe that the BBC are right to allow him to speak, however, rather than just not broadcasting any racial hatred I trust there will be police in the studio to arrest him if he breaks any laws on racial hatred!
I also hope the other panelists and the non BNP supporters in the audience don't lose their cool whilst the BNP maintain theirs - a surefire way to ensure increased support for the BNP
- Andy, london, 22/10/2009 14:21
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I detest the BNP and what it stands for, but I applaud the BBC for its stand against censorship. "I don't like what you say, but I'll fight for your right to say it" is a fundamental of a healthy democracy.
Those who oppose letting the BNP be heard, are arguing for censorship. Once that becomes acceptable, who will be next in line for gagging?
Yes, it is right there are legal limits on free speech, and if the BNP's leader crosses these lines on "Question Time" or anywhere else, he should be prosecuted. If not, listen to the debate, and decide what you think. In passing, far too many people who clearly were guilty of inciting crimes have escaped prosecution of late - "Islamic" extremists, "Real IRA" sectarians, and animal rights loonies, to name three groups that I recall from the news. Which may well be where some of Nick Griffin's misguided supporters are coming from.
- Nigel, London, 22/10/2009 14:06
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I SEE ECHOES OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC HERE(pre war germany)
1) economic problems
2) mass unemployment
3) demobbed and disgruntled ex servicemen
4) the criminalisation of a political party.
As we all know , hitler was imprisoned (where he wrote mein kampf),then martyred and idolised by the disenfranchised germans as a german messiah.
The unemployed and disenfranchised white communities of great britain have enough clout to put the B.N.P or a party of it's ilk in power(then god help us).
I think this is what new labour are scared of ,as they have created a situation where this is viable, and as a middle aged jewish male,with grandchildren , gives me the shivers just thinking about what could happen.
An earlier post pointed out the disgruntled ex servicemen returning from iraq , and these were exactly the types the nazis targeted to use as their political footsoldiers.
New labour has a lot to answer for in my book by making political martyrs of the B.N.P and not letting them have a say on national tv.
Not to let them have a say will give them more credibility than they deserve with the voting public , and by then it will be too late.
- Mr Pastry, london, 22/10/2009 14:00
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I dont see what the problem is about this man appearing on TV I mean we have had people in this country burning the Union Jack and having their say and no one seems to mind!!!! not the police the government.....trouble with this government is they no they have failed and the other parties know they are no good either..... so they are all running scared....
- Ana, London, 22/10/2009 13:37
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I applaud the BBC and in particular Mark Thompson for standing his ground, and shock horror, actually listening to what the people of this country want. As voters, taxpayers etc, we have a right to hear what this man has to say, even if we don't agree with it.
And for once, I agree with Jack Straw - why give Nick Griffin the satisfaction of an empty chair....
Come on Jack - show us some of those lawyering skills and make this odious man squirm!!
- Madgefan, London, 22/10/2009 13:22
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I have more respect for the BBC now, the BBC is a Public Service, and not a service for politicians to use as they see fit.
Well done Mark Thompson, you have the courage of your convictions, and it takes courage to be honest in the UK today, against so much curruption by the state and society etc.
I remind you all of the saying; without fear there is no courage, and without courage, there is no hope?
Let the debate begin; this is a democracy; lets see democracy working once again.
If this is not a democracy; then shut down the free media and the free Press, and live the rest of your lives in fear.
- Mickinlondon, london, 22/10/2009 13:09
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Griffin is not the problem. It is the thousands of returning squaddies who have spent years being bombed and shot at by Muslims. Now, which way do you think they are going to vote when they get home to Bradford and Birmingham and London and Glasgow ? What else do you think they will do if they decide not to vote at all ? Remember which groups Hitler first campaigned with: the ex-servicemen.
- Davidke, ramsey isle of man, 22/10/2009 12:54
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THe BBC are wrong to allow Fat Nick on the programme as it is clear that the BNP is a "racist" group no other party that appears on QT is so openly racist.
- Mike M, Bedford England, 22/10/2009 12:34
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If the other panel members use their appearance on QT to make political capital for themselves rather than focussing on the odious nature of Griffin's party and what it stands for, it will be a victory for Griffin. BNP plays upon the fears of the electorate just like all the other parties, it's just that theydon't get people to buy hand gel because they're scared of swine flu, they incite the ignorant masses to violent attacks on others just because the cour of their skin is different. One can only hope that the oilks are too busy watching Sky and have forgotten how to get BBC on their plasmas!
- Paulo Uccello, London, UK, 22/10/2009 11:40
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The BBC is not being attacked on all sides. Most polls on the subject show that in excess of 80% of people think the BBC is right to include Griffin on a QT panel. "All sides" in this case is a vociferous minority who have no respect for freedom of speech and would like to manipulate the political system for their own ends.
- George Parker, Stanmore, UK, 22/10/2009 11:28
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Well done Mark Thompson, just goes to show that the bbc stands for free speech and democracy. pity the main politcal dictatorships dont.
- Geoffrey Bishop, southport england, 22/10/2009 11:12
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What on earth is everyone scared of? You'd think that Nick Griffin was some sort of great orator who has defeated the world’s greatest statesmen in unarmed rhetoric, whereas in truth he looks as though he has enough problems trying to work out how to put his trousers on every morning. If any politician is actually scared that they wouldn’t be able to defeat him in a straight mental fencing match then they’re probably in the wrong job, talk about stealing candy from a baby. Anyone appearing against Griffin should be easily able to make him look like the buffoon that he quite obviously is and using the opportunity to lose him members not gain him them, it really says something for the quality of our MPs when they’re scared of someone with the intellect of an amoeba.
Also, I have to ask what planet is Livingstone living on? And is it ruled by giant newts?
- Bob, Cheam, 22/10/2009 10:49
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For once I agree with every word that mark Thompson has said,now if we could just find a way of banning Labour from the airwaves,what a wonderful world this would be.
- Auf Deutsch, Bent Kent in Broken Britain., 22/10/2009 08:48
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With Peter Hain (Mahogany Man) protesting against the appearance of Nick Griffin on Question Time - and a protest planned outside the BBC studios - it makes one wonder who the real Fascists in our society really are.
- Alan, Essex, 22/10/2009 08:42
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as we are all capable of making our own minds up when deciding for whom to vote we should have the right to listen and make our own minds up whoever they are.
If they talk rubbish they will be condemned out of their own mouths.
- Simon, london, 22/10/2009 08:31
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The correct decision. Free speech must come first. Peter Hain is wrong to complain about the publicity gifted to the BNP. Labour and the other parties have done this themselves by making immigration a subject that cannot be discussed.
- Edgar, London, 22/10/2009 07:55
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