• BBC chief: Only Parliament can ban BNP from airwaves
• Question Time: London MPs attack BBC for inviting party leader

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When it boils down to it, policy is policy, racism is racism.
The BNP won't win based on the fact that they ignore equal opportunities.
People that come to this country to work, work.
What makes this country great is that we have high equal opportunities and the BNP are trying to change that.
I don't agree when someone says 'there are no jobs' go to the Job Center and look on the database, there are loads, perhaps not the one you want, but can you really be picky in the current climate of the economy? Just apply, if you need to learn a new skill, so be it.
'Immigrants are taking all our jobs'... No, what's actually happening is that people from other countries have trained and become skilled in a certain profession, let me ask, when was the last time you saw a 'White' British Doctor? My GP certainly isn't!

Britain, wake up and stop being narrow minded. A good leader utilizes his teams strengths, if that means having a skilled Indian working as a doctor, go for it. If it means that your laborers are all Lithuanian, it most likely means that British people aren't interested in working in construction.

Equal Opportunities, Britain set it up, now carry it forward.

- Kevin Allergy, London

These wee protestors with an agenda (making a you tube movie), its no suprise they were stopped from entering. Would the Muslim Council of Britain allow BNP members into their meetings?

- John The Butcher, Fulham, London

When it gets right down to it, the majority of the BNP, the Bloody Nasty People organisation, lol, are, and always will be, racists. Many non-whites will indeed try and join, if only in order to try and wind them up/test their boundaries (even if most may well be working for the media!). If a strict ruling comes into place to allow non whites, we may well see the majority of the most racist members completely leave the party, or even the party diminish into nothing-leaving the hard believers to start up another far lower key group, stuck to using the internet for all its group meetings and rants on how we must rid britain of all non whites.

- Morebritishthanthebnp, Glasgae UK

"Closet racists like Mickinlondon and Frank make me laugh - they always try to counter-argue with stupid, pathetic statements like "does the Black Police Assosiation bar white police officers" or, in the case of racist attacks, "white people are the victim of ractist attacks as well", or "put a white man on an estate in London and see how long he survives" etc. There's no better way of showing one's true racist colours!" - Warren Peace.

Warren, I totally agree with you that BNP are racist and I am certain they have some very nasty agendas. So, we're on the same side (the anti-BNP side) but I would like to say that Black on White racism does happen. My white sister-in-law was racially abused and beaten by black kids at school and on the estate she grew up on. She actually loves so much about black culture, the people, the music, the food. And she is particularly attracted to black men. Thankfully she doesn't judge all black people by that horrendous experience. But it is worth saying that racism of all kinds needs to be exposed and gotten rid of.

- Evie, London

I dont know what the big fuss is about R Catholics are barred from ever becoming the King or Queen of the UK,AND QUITE FRANKLY i COULD NOT GIVE A DAM

- Michael Campbell, Dublin

It must be frustrating for Nick Griffin, the acceptable face of British Fascism, knowing that this lieutenants are too thick to keep up the pretence.

- Victor, UK

"NJ: Lets not forget what a racist actually is. Michinlondon may have got his facts wrong but this does not make him a racist.- Nick London."
Well I didn’t actually call him a racist but as you mention it, no, getting his facts wrong doesn't make him a racist but the sentiment of his email “each to their own” probably does. By his logic it would be fine for me, as a white man, to refuse to rent my house to a black man, as it’s my flat so I can choose to rent it to “one of my own” or I could refuse to give a job to an Asian because I prefer to “stick to my own kind” at work. That logic is purely racist. I thought you non-PC lot like to call things as they see them, well so do I and when I see a racist view I'm not afraid to call it.

- Nj, London

The BNP are trying to con the British public.

The British public aren't stupid! Well most of us aren't.

- William, London

So many excuses to justify the unjustifiable.

So many "if and buts".

It seems clear to me that if you are not white then your welcome in the BNP.

All this posturing and excuses trying to condone behaviour which confirms that the BNP are paying lip service to the law of our country.

You will note that of all the writers excusing the behaviour of the BNP not a single writer states that he or she would welcome blacks and Asians in the BNP - strange or perhaps not.

The word racist is derotary in every way and rightly so.

- Reg, London

How do we know there weren't other reasons they didn't want to let those people into their meeting. It says they were campaigners, maybe the meeting organisers sensed they were there to cause trouble. Maybe the reason they let the Swedish woman in was because she was attractive (they often are!) You just don't know.

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx

Wake up to the real world Sarah - they let the Swedish woman in because she was WHITE! Now stop living in denial like the rest of your BNP floozies.

- Warren Peace, London

Warren Peace,there speaks the true voice of fascism,anybody that disagrees with your views is a racist,you are a blinkered bigoted moron and a enemy of free speech.

- Auf Deutsch, Bent Kent in Broken Britain.

Warren Peace, London, down-playing legitimate concerns and opinions as unimportant (to you) & 'closet racism' (to your mind) doesn't make the points any less relevant.

The only real thing that I got from this article is that some people made an attempt to crash a meeting of others they're vehemently opposed to, filmed what stank of 'set-up' for their own propaganda purposes, then started bleating about how hard done by they were when they didn't get away with it.

As I wasn't there (nor would I ever have been before I'm accused of being a 'closet racist' for daring to see beyond your narrow perspective Warren) I don't know the in's and out's of all the side show point scoring that's going on in this column. All I can go by is what's in the article - people with an agenda milking the situation they set up in the first place.

Freedom of speech isn't discretionary. It's an either/or thing. You have it, or you don't. I dislike much of what the BNP say, but that doesn't mean they have no right to 'say' in the first place. I recognise the same right for left wing socialists too, although each is as bad as the other in my view. Freedom to disrupt is not freedom of speech though, it is suppression of that freedom.

Remember, 'open' political meetings are not obliged to admit people who are out to disrupt those meetings, no matter who is running the show. 'Disingenuous' is far too feeble a word to discribe those who are wailing out their shock/horror to the contrary.

- Rogan, Irving

It doesnt matter if they were members if any of you had the intelligence to actually watch the film then you would realise that the meeting bulletin specifically said that non-members were welcome hence the entire reason for this.....

If you plan on being a racist then please do your research first because its like shooting fish in a barrel when picking holes in your ethics,arguments, and political views.

- Bison Boy, London

Mickinlondon, you and I see eye to eye on the child care issue. My point was to illustrate the unsuitability of the BNP to participate in a race debate. I did not say they should be banned from QT. I for one am looking forward to it. But I already know all that I need to know about them. If a law abiding black ex serviceman turned up at a meeting and the murderer of poor Baby P turned up at the same meeting, both dressed the same and neither saying anything, guess who would be turned away and who would be welcomed with open arms? They judge a man not on his character, morals, talent or contribution to society. They judge clearly on the colour of his skin. They are a racist party. Like all bullying thugs they are too cowardly to admit this. It's also scary that so many posters are either fellow travellers or too ignorant to realise this. By the way, Labour has pledged 500 more troops to fight the Taliban and therefore Islamic extremism. According to the BNP our generals are war criminals. That's a great way to support our troops. Or is it that they see the similarities they share - preaching to the ignorant and inadequate, blaming others for their own failings, hating those different to themselves.
Charlie, from the article it clear that these people were not members. I'm sure you are aware this is because non whites are barred from joining the party. This is clearly racist. The white Swede, who also wasn't a member was let in. Why was this do you think?

- Veritas Noire, Purley

It's a shame this stunt wasn't better executed. If these guys had joined the BNP, maybe they would have been allowed in.

I think I'll sign up so I can try to join the next private meeting. I've got a way round the colour issue - if they don't know what colour I am, they can't discriminate, so I'm thinking of wearing a white hood over my face.

- Liton Ali, Canvas Magazine, London

The only thing is Liton, whilst they'll now need to accept members of every race and colour, they'll more likely ban them from attending meetings or the Red, White & Blue festival ("sorry sir, this is a private meeting", or "no - all tickets have been sold out").

- Warren Peace, London

I feel ambivalent about the appearance of the bnp on question time. On one hand it is important to expose their intransigent ignorance, and give the public a thorough insight into the mentality behind the party. On the other hand I do not believe it is appropriate to give them the same platform as a legitimate political party, However hopefully people will be able to more easily decipher between an accredited political party, and a more murky controversial side to UK politics.

- Matthew, london

BNP - British Noreasonto exist Party - I mean come on, do you think any asians, blacks or foreigners will vote for them?

Let the racist narrrow minded idiots waste their time - Im too busy running my business and paying taxes and trying to survive.

Who gives a hoot - BNP are seen by many as a racist party - voice for racists.

- Ancient Wisdom, London, England

Thomas Hayes - No discrimination on the US forces.

History not your subject is it Thos.
Segregation was rigidly enforced until 1948 when Harry S Truman issued Eo9881. That would be three years after WW2 ended.
You can find out more in popular culture by seeing movies about the Tuskeegee Airman.
There were entire units that were exclusively coloured even during the American Civil War (see film 'Glory').

Or by reading the story of the black sailor (Dorrie Miller) denied the CMH at the time but awarded the Navy Cross in Pearl Harbor (7/12/41) purely on race. In the US Navy coloured sailors could only be stewards or work in the engine room(?). Not fighting roles. This was patently absurd. When a nearby gun crew was killed he grabbed a machine gun and fought for fifteen minutes shooting down a Japanese plane. He had no training on the gun. Brave man.
I believe he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (equiv our VC) recently.

Even in the Korean War coloured troops typically had support roles. Vietnam changed that and now as you say there is no segregation.

- Ethan, uk

The situation regarding the National Black Police Association is more complex than suggested here. Until recently, its website set out membership eligibility in terms almost as tortuous as those used by the BNP to limit entry, but which amounted after unravelling to "Non-Whites Only". The NPBA altered its published eligibility rules pretty damned sharpish after the BNP started pointing it out as a counter-example after it was threatened by the EHRC.

Actually the NBPA is not a direct membership organization. Officers join the local BPA for their particular force and are thereby affiliated to the national organization. Some of the local BPA websites were a bit lackadaisical in updating their own websites to reflect the new "everybody welcome" policy. If you hunt around you might still find one that states explicitly that membership is for Non-Whites only.

- Edwin Greenwood, London

There are a few good comments on here today and a lot of stupid ones,could somebody please tell me why the black police association needs to call itself black?,even to the simplest of people that is basically saying we are only interested in "blacks",now to me that does sound totally racist,if they are not bothered about skin colour then why can't they just belong to the normal police association?,or are they a special case? it is they who are making a big issue over peoples skin colour,-in my opinion the black police association is a racist organisation because they do not wish to mix with whites!.

- Auf Deutsch, Bent Kent in Broken Britain.

Yet another racist who uses selective reading/listening to twist the facts to what they want to hear!

- Warren Peace, London

"Doesn't insistence of membership defer immediate exclusivity - of ANY organisation?

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx"

Not if you are a Swedish lady ! Deluded ?

- James, London

If you ban Far Right,you should ban Far Left,they are just as bad,while you are all arguing there is another bunch of idiots running the country.

- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey UK

The BNP have not been forced to do anything, yet. They have SUSPENDED memberships and told the courts they will be holding a referendum on the matter of changing their constitution, this has not happened yet. The meeting was for members only, which the people WERE NOT. Considering memberships are suspended to new people, these people knew full well they would not be allowed in and this is more leftist / UAF hype planned out that day the BNP went to court. I for one see through the lies and hysteria.

- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London

How do we know there weren't other reasons they didn't want to let those people into their meeting. It says they were campaigners, maybe the meeting organisers sensed they were there to cause trouble. Maybe the reason they let the Swedish woman in was because she was attractive (they often are!) You just don't know.

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx

The fundamental question is simple - are the BNP a racsist party ?

If they are not then what is the problem.

If they are then why try to hide behind a veil of deceit.

- Albert, London

James Pearson, London - Your statement that you were prevented from entering regents park mosque is a complete lie.

I have been there a number of times and there is never an issue. In fact, the mosque welcomes people of all religions to enter and to learn about each other customs.

Maybe if you stopped being ignorant you may learn a few things.

- William Jenkins, london

Dave - in answer to your question, the answer is NO. The BNP is not a democratic organisation, it does not have one-member-one-vote but is controlled from the top down by the leader (which translates to Fuhrer in German btw).

- Nolan, Londonist

Mick in London - Which Mosques allow entry and embrace other religions... hmm yet to identify.

- The Hirj, London

Doesn't insistence of membership defer immediate exclusivity - of ANY organisation?

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx

NJ: Lets not forget what a racist actually is. Michinlondon may have got his facts wrong but this does not make him a racist.

The word racist is thrown around too easily now days! PC has gone mad in this country and you can be labeled a racist for way too much.

This is all down to these minority groups that keep popping up. There is a new one due to take place where it will soon be against the law to call someone fat. PC has gone mad.

- Nick, London

There was no discrimination during WW2 against coloured people serving in the armed forces particularly in the US forces and the US being a racist country where coloured people were concerned. The whole thing beggars belief!

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

I was prevented from entering a mosque in Regents Park recently. One rule for some and another rule for others.

- James Pearson, London

"Do MPs allow the Public the same equality they have?"
"Yes."

Last time I looked MPs were allowed to smoke in their private bar whereas the rest of the UK population are banned from doing this. Where ever you stand on the issue of the smoking ban in enclosed public places, the exemption MPs have voted themselves is quite simply wrong and a blatant abuse of power. They therefore are not equal to the public they supposedly serve but have additional priviledges.

- Chris, London

There are a few good comments on here today and a lot of stupid ones,could somebody please tell me why the black police association needs to call itself black?,even to the simplest of people that is basically saying we are only interested in "blacks",now to me that does sound totally racist,if they are not bothered about skin colour then why can't they just belong to the normal police association?,or are they a special case? it is they who are making a big issue over peoples skin colour,-in my opinion the black police association is a racist organisation because they do not wish to mix with whites!.

- Auf Deutsch, Bent Kent in Broken Britain.

Veritas Noire, Purley.

Surely you should hear the condemned speak, before condemning then without hearing them speak?

Violence is practised by other groups that are not condemned, like Religious Radicals, Terrorists, and Elected Governments etc; and we do not have to wait and see this happen, as it already happens etc.

If as you say; some argue there is a debate to be had about race and immigration; then why are we not hearing that debate from all other political parties etc?

As to your comment about child care; and Paedophiles being asked to join a debate about child-care etc; I would argue that children themselves should be asked to join any debate about Paedophiles themselves, and the vile crimes committed against children, and what are responsible adults doing about children's future protection and security etc.

I would also think; that children should have the right to decide paedophiles punishment, and their opinions about them being released early to offend again etc, or even released at all; after all, this a crime committed by adults on children; yet children have no say in crimes committed against them personally etc.

So Veritas Noire; lets hear all the arguments, not just the selected pretty ones, lets hear and see democracy at work, and not New Labours State Control of our minds and our intelligence.

In my opinion; I think a free democratic Nation, should be able to see and hear the lot; warts and all?

Labour hates whistle-blowers? Why?

- Mickinlondon, london

Duh.

Are men allowed to use women's toilets?!(followed by excessive punctuation)

Are non-disabled people allowed to park in disabled parking bays?!!!!

Are cyclists allowed to cycle on the pavement?!!!!!!!!!!

If a meercat is born in a fishmonger is it still an ostrich?!!!!

It's political correctness gone mad I tell ya!

- Joe Chapman, Oxford

It's a shame this stunt wasn't better executed. If these guys had joined the BNP, maybe they would have been allowed in.

I think I'll sign up so I can try to join the next private meeting. I've got a way round the colour issue - if they don't know what colour I am, they can't discriminate, so I'm thinking of wearing a white hood over my face.

- Liton Ali, Canvas Magazine, London

Quick question?

If the BNP had 10000 membership and suddenly, now that they have o open their doors, 11000 non whites or anti BNP people joined would these 11,000 have the the majority vote to disband the party or change leadership and put a non white in charge??

Any ideas

- Dave, London

If they believe what they are saying is right, and founded on accurate evidence, then they should have the confidence to allow anyone in to their meetings. The fact that they don't says it all. The slightest bit of scrutiny by anyone with half a brain or a remotely questioning mind will bring their house of cards crashing down.

- Lw, London

I'm not sure that people who behave in a racist manner are specifically racist because in my experience they tend to be narrow minded and ignorant in absolutely everything they do!

- John Entwistle, Hertford, England

BNP was originally a party for white British people as far as I am aware. In the 70/80s there were some white people who did not welcome foreigners from other countries into Britain. White people were not welcome in their countries either. Not many knew about culture or colour back then-who can blame us if we were not taught it at school. Anything other than what we were used to we didn't understand and still don't. I believe BNP stems from a lack of understanding of culture which is different from our own. My friends at school from India and Jamaica often told me that they didn't like us 'whites' much either and certainly many of them didn't want to live here. However, England was a place of opportunity to many similarly to that of the American dream. Most cultures, religions don't see eye to eye, never have and if left to own devices never will. Most cultures, religions carry with them prejudices but I believe that in each and every human being their is good. We need to find a way of living together accepting and appreciating eachother instead of this continuous petty fighting over nothing that is very important. No one has any more right to anything than the person next to him. We were all born naked, with nothing and we will all die with nothing. It is sad that the bit in the middle, life, should be so misserable when in fact we all have so much to be thankful for. Nature is free, love is free being kind to one another is free. We are all accountable for our actions.

- Ashley Smithson, st albans

Will, spot on, sir. The use of the term fascist if almost always incorrectly used.What people really mean is right-wing, racist bigots - but that's too much of a mouthfull.

The point is were these people members at the point they tried to enter? Or were they simply trying to stir up trouble? You, the public, decide.I know what I think.

- Charlie Farley, Broxbourne

The BNP will always get in the spotlight and build support in a recession. They play to people's fears about jonny foreigner coming over here and taking all of our jobs / housing / women etc.

Its a shame that some people seriously feel this vile party is the solution.

- James, London, Maida Vale

I think that we should be careful about bounding around the term facist. The BNP is not a facist organisation as it has at no point claimed to believe in a single party or centralised state.

Using this term enables them to defend themselves to easily. What its members and politicians are is ignorant and racist.

- Will, London, UK

Closet racists like Mickinlondon and Frank make me laugh - they always try to counter-argue with stupid, pathetic statements like "does the Black Police Assosiation bar white police officers" or, in the case of racist attacks, "white people are the victim of ractist attacks as well", or "put a white man on an estate in London and see how long he survives" etc. There's no better way of showing one's true racist colours!

- Warren Peace, London

Mickinlondon- try and do some research before commenting, otherwise you defeat the purpose of your point (if you have one)... At the VERY top of their homepage.. "Welcome to the National Black Police Association, The NBPA is open to all in policing on application, there is no bar to membership based on colour." Couldn't be clearer.

- Nj, London

I was at this meeting when it took place. The meeting was over by the time this group had arrived and there was a private meeting going on with staff only! They were told this and also told they could come to any meetings in the future like everyone else.

Any disturbance outside the venue was totally unrelated to the mkeeting inside.

- Bob, London

You BNP lot will come up with any pathetic excuse to try and save face - not that any of us are as stupid as you may think, or as you are yourselves.

- Warren Peace, London

"Labour are the real fascists now."

No, Thomas - the whole country know the BNP as a violent, fascist organisation - not a political party, (since parties have to practise non-discrimination, and the BNP refuse to do that.)
No proper party would dare evict people who came to a party meeting wanting to join. Thay are just pure evil and don't represent fgenuine communities in this country.

- Keith Price, Luton England

"Does the Black Police Assosiation bar white police officers?"

Er... no! As it makes very clear on the front page of its website.

- Michael, London

"Does the Black Police Assosiation bar white police officers?"

No.

"Do Mosques ban Christians from worshipping there, or even joining etc?"

Mosques are open to persons of other faiths. However, a Mosque does not perform services for other faiths.

"Do the Free-masons allow trade unions to become members?"

Trades Unions cannot become freemasons, as a Trades Union is not an individual.

"Do MPs allow the Public the same equality they have?"

Yes.

- Tommy Atkins, Lancashire UK

I'm just waiting for the ignorant and inadequate fools to come on and defend this overt racism. This is what the BNP are all about. No doubt violence is next on their agenda. Some argue there is a debate to be had about race and immigration. Fine but are racist white supremacists the right people to join the debate? That's akin to asking paedophiles to join a debate about childcare!

- Veritas Noire, Purley

I do wonder if these kind of stunts by 'Don't Panic' and others, are not perhaps somewhat counter productive?

How you will defeat this ideology is by reintroducing pragmatism into the politics of this country. We need to rid ourselves of the injustice of Labour's perverted view of "equality".

We need to put country first and not individual rights. Cohesion in a society can only happen if we are all singing from the same song sheet. I hate to say it, but I think France has it right.

The idea that in this country we have to be careful, as indigeneous Christians, by doing what we have been doing for centuries in case we offend 'others', is utterly utterly ludicrous.

The BNP might not get the votes, but they are tapping into a subconscious that pervades the vast majority of our indigeneous Christian society.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

What a suprise. So much for the freedom of speech and association.

Anybody who believes that the BNP are anything but a front for simple racism are deluded.

Whichever way they try and present themselves does not hide the pernicious nature of these people.

Some people, the deluded, will say well it was a private meeting etc but what about the Swedish woman !

- James, London

I was at this meeting when it took place. The meeting was over by the time this group had arrived and there was a private meeting going on with staff only! They were told this and also told they could come to any meetings in the future like everyone else.

Any disturbance outside the venue was totally unrelated to the mkeeting inside.

- Bob, London

Were these people members of the bnp? If not, they really don't have any right to be at a bnp meeting or indeed, a meeting of any association of which they are not members.

- Helen, norwich

So what? I remember seeing a couple of big heavies bodily evicting a frail old man from Labour's party conference a couple of years ago - simply because he dared to disagree with Jack Straw.

Labour are the real fascists now.

- Thomas, London

Does the Black Police Assosiation bar white police officers?

Do Mosques ban Christians from worshipping there, or even joining etc?

Do the Free-masons allow trade unions to become members?

Do MPs allow the Public the same equality they have?

There are always different course, for different horses?

People will join, or not join, what ever they prefer or choose etc.

It is still supposed to be a free country?

And each to its own?

- Mickinlondon, london

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