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Last night, as Bonnie Greer prepared to enter the electric atmosphere of the BBC Question Time studio, she came face to face with Nick Griffin for the first time.
"It was the strangest thing because as I came out of my dressing room prepared for combat, it was as if he'd been waiting for me in the corridor," she says.
"I was the last to emerge and when he saw me, he turned and smiled his greasy smile and clumsily half extended a hand. I ignored it and thought to myself: what are you about? Are you forgetting I'm black? Are you forgetting you called me a black history fabricator? Are you trying to show me you aren't racist?"
But the off-camera behaviour of the leader of the far-right British National Party towards Greer, a black Chicago-born writer who became a British citizen 11 years ago, was to become even more bizarrely ingratiating as they entered the studio.
"We were seated next to each other and as we were having our microphones attached, he leaned towards me like I was his new best friend and tried to make small talk. "Bonnie, how many times have you been on?" he asked. "Bonnie, do you find it scary?" I looked him straight in the eye. "No," I replied sharply, "but you might."
Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard immediately after filming at Television Centre in west London, Greer, 60, describes - over a stiff vodka - the ordeal of sitting next to Griffin as "probably the weirdest and most creepy experience of my life".
"I spent the entire night with my back turned to him. At one point, I had to restrain myself from slapping him. But it was worth it," she insists, "because he was totally trounced. I had thought we'd face a formidable orator, somebody who knew his facts and had his ducks in a row but the guy was a mess!
"From the moment the audience began shooting questions, it was a case of the Emperor's new clothes. He was completely exposed as an evasive liar who couldn't even stand up his own quotes and looked like a buffoon."
The other panellists - Justice Secretary Jack Straw, shadow minister for community cohesion Sayeda Warsi, and Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne - came down on him like a ton of bricks, she says.
"They were formidably prepared with quotes and statistics, and [host] David Dimbleby was excellent at holding him to account. I don't know if the cameras picked this up but Griffin was trembling and shaking like a leaf.
"There was a pivotal moment in the show when Dimbleby pressed him on whether he was still a Holocaust denier and he just looked totally bereft. For a couple of seconds there was a deafening silence. It was an amazing moment. You could see the panel thinking, 'He's done for'.
"He had climbed in the ring with some heavyweights and in all honesty, he got slapped around. The audience and the panel took him down time after time. It was a blood sport. He looked totally out of his depth. I was shocked by how ill-prepared he was. He didn't seem to have credible answers to anything."
Before the show there were those who expressed concerns as to whether this elegant but softly-spoken intellectual would be robust enough to take on Griffin.
As the only non-politician on the panel, her job would be to lift the debate above party politics, but she'd need to be less the lofty academic and more the voice of the people.
Outside the BBC complex, hundreds of screaming anti-fascist protesters were engaged in running battles with the police because they believed Griffin - an MEP whose party won six per cent of the vote in the last European elections - should not have been invited.
At stake was the future credibility and popularity of the BNP and its leader who would no doubt try and present a sanitised version of himself and his party.
Was she satisfied with her performance?
During the show, which focused on making Griffin account for his pernicious views on subjects ranging from immigration to the Holocaust to homophobia, Greer was well received but came across more as a bemused lecturer than the feisty combative some had hoped for.
For example, when Griffin was asked to explain how the BNP could justify using Winston Churchill as its symbol, Bonnie pointed out that Churchill's American mother was rumoured to have Mohawk blood and that he could not have joined Griffin's "all-white" party.
Later she scolded Griffin for calling David Duke's Ku Klux Klan a "non-violent organisation" and said he was talking "BS".
And she invited him to the British Museum for a lesson to understand once and for all that there is no such thing as "the indigenous English people".
But it took a black audience member to really raise the roof when he told Griffin: "You're a disgrace. The vast majority of this audience find what you stand for to be completely disgusting."
Why was she not more strident in her attacks on him? "I didn't need to, because others like Jack Straw waded in so heavily. I felt my job was to subtly lampoon him, toy with him, expose the idiocy of his ideas.
"I didn't want to come across as the angry, screaming black woman pointing my finger and hollering because that's how people like Griffin and his supporters view black women. I saw us as a team - it wasn't an ego thing, wasn't as if I had to take him down all on my own."
There was a touching moment, she says, just before they started recording when Sayeda Warsi ran over to her and said: "Are you okay sitting next to Griffin?" "I said: 'I'm from Chicago, I'm not scared of this guy!' And we just hugged spontaneously. We were like two prize-fighters going into the ring to do battle."
Was it a tough choice to appear alongside Griffin on the show? "When I was asked I deliberated for days. As someone who grew up in America and who is more cultural than political, I wasn't sure what I'd bring to the table. But then I realised, I'm the only one on the panel who has chosen to come to this country.
"I chose to come here because I saw it as a country of decent, fair people. But also because this country gave my father, Ben Greer, who was a black sharecropper from Mississippi, his first decent experience of white people he'd ever had.
"He came here during the war, in a blacks-only unit as part of General Patton's army and was involved in the second wave of D-Day landings, and later he always spoke about how well the white working-class Brits had treated him, the very people who today are said to be turning to the BNP.
"My daddy always said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. So I decided to come for him, and also for my deceased white English mother-in-law, Joan Hutchins, who had never met a black person before she met me, and who welcomed me into her heart."
The day had begun with top-secret calls from Television Centre to Greer and the other panellists that they should be ready and dressed to go "any moment" and that cars would be dispatched to pick them up with "just 15 minutes notice".
Greer picked her outfit carefully: a demure dark top and jacket and on her wrist, a colourful African bead bracelet. "I was wearing the colours of Jamaica and of Africa," she laughs. "A touch of ethnic."
They were provided police contact numbers - and in Griffin's case a police escort - in case they had to change their route at the last moment.
At 6pm, with hundreds of protesters engaged in running skirmishes with the police out front, they were quietly smuggled in through a back entrance.
"Usually we all mingle in the green room before the show but there was no mingling this time and we all had our own private green rooms. The show itself was tense, like no Question Time I've ever experienced.
"To me, the stars though, were the audience. It was a typical London multicultural audience and they were just brilliant in the way they held Griffin to account. It made my job easy."
Does she think that the BNP membership would swell, despite Griffin's poor showing? "No, I think that young people watching the show who might have been tempted to join the BNP will think again after seeing his dismal performance.
"Having him on and holding him to account on such a public forum is like getting to interrogate the Wizard of Oz - he's been built up and up, but then you find he's just a windbag and there's nothing there."
At the end, she laughs ruefully, Griffin turned to her and gave her his business card. "Bizarre - I can't even begin to understand why."
She shrugs. "Afterwards, there is usually a communal supper for all the panellists. But not this time. Nobody could bring themselves to break bread with Nick Griffin."
Reader views (50)
I watched the show with a totally impartial view, more out of intrigue really with all the hype it had generated, but I must say I found Ms Greer to be rude, ignorant, hostile and as bigoted as she was trying to portray Mr Griffin. Also, why is it acceptable for her to say sitting next to Nick Griffin was "creepy", yet he was absolutley annihalated for saying he found the sight of 2 men kissing in public "creepy" Ms Greer, and the entire panel on Question Time last week, showed a clear case of double standards and fascism - gone was the democratic right to your own opinion, whatever it may be. It seems you are only allowed an opinion in this country nowadays if it is acceptable to the Labour government.
- Karen, London
Bonnie Greer's comments about Mr Griffin and her behaviour to him during the programme and before show her to be as bigoted as she thinks he is. Frankly, it is because of the type of journalism she represents that a certain percentage of British voters have turned to the BNP, no matter what their failings are, as they see no other avenue of protest against a situation many find unbearable. As to the other members of the panel, I am afraid to say that I find most of them as "creepy" as they find Mr Griffin and I am not a BNP supporter.
- Jonathan Montmorency, cooden, uk
Well done Bonnie!!
- Richard Evans, Shropshire
Bonnie Greer was NOT fantastic. Her arrogant, tedious and smug back-turning was awful to watch. She did herself no favours. I have NO time for the BNP either, but if THAT was intelligent debate then heaven help us.
There's pretty much one reason for the rise of the BNP - immigration. And it's more about economics than race. it's a NO BRAINER.
- Sarah Jones, London, UK
I think Jack Straw looked demented, good point about his grandfather refusing to fight in the war, Straw said Frank Field was a good friend of his, thats my vote for Field gone. Straw is odius.
- Rob Ak, Birkenhead
Disappointing programme. Not really a debate, more an opportunity to shout down NG and try and take the moral high ground. Well, sorry, but in particular, Jack Straw, cannot claim that! Still doesn't solve the problem of liebore's uncontrolled immigration mess! Ms Greer was ok.
- Wa, Oxfordshire
After an evening of so much anger and hate - my hate and anger directed towards Griffin, it is so lovely to see such great comments full of love and solidarity!
Too much Hate in the world!
- Kevin, London
No, Bonnie did not turn in a sparkling debating performance but, to endure sitting next to that repulsive man and put up with the odious filth of his bigotry, what a star!
- Dave, Darkest Lincolnshire
Roz, France. Presumably you are an immigrant in France as well or would you rather refer to yourself as an 'expat'? Bonnie is just stating what the history is - albeit unpalatable to you! Your ancestors who tilled the ground and who were royalty (let's ignore the delusions) were also the ones who invaded other people's countries and took them as slaves to benefit and develop the economics of their own (exploitation) and when slave trade was abolished, they continued the trend with colonisation in which they taxed people in the colonies to their graves - again to develop England. Now, please explain to me why the descendants of those who were exploited in this manner do not feel guilty in sharing in this economic success built on their lives, sweat and blood? Exploitation is always wrong - What goes round, comes round!!!
- Bernadette, Provence, France
A historian who says that there is "no such thing as an indigenous people" clearly has as much to learn on such matters as Griffin.
- Hb, Rochford, Essex
I have to congratulate all the panelists on Question Time last night you dealt with this odious character in a sound and thorough way! I also have to congratulate the audience who made him wriggle in his seat and look thoroughly shifty as he scrabbled and grasped furtively for evasive answers. He looked like a DEMENTED weasel twitching and shaking in his seat. If anyone was thinking about joining this racist party, I should think that they would be having second thoughts now! A special thanks to the black gentleman at the front, who called him what he truely is DISGUSTING!!!
- Jenny Phillips, London England
The people inclined to vote BNP will have seen someone who is on the side of the British people and British culture being belittled and bullied by a gang of the politically-correct liberals that they believe are responsible for their grievances and the mess that the country is in with regard to a lack of law and order, control of immigration and the multicultural society. Consequently, they will have ignored the parts of QT in which Griffin made himself look foolish.
In short, the BNP will no doubt have profited from Griffin's appearance. It remains to be seen if their vote will fall, grow or stagnate as their members are granted chances in the media to air their views.
If measures are not taken by the government of the day to address the lack of law and order and uncontrolled immigration, I can only see their vote increasing.
- Eric Legge, Ongar, England
I thought Bonnie Greer was brilliant - You cannot beat solid education.
I never thought I would say this but i was extremely proud of Jack Straw and his responses.
I enjoy watching Question time but i really thought the BNP thing could have handled via another forum. Am more worried about when next i would receive my post from Royal Mail and when the govt is going to stop the fat bank bonuses. In the scheme of everything else happening on a daily basis, dedicating almost 45minutes of my tax paying money to a BNP leader was unforgivable
- Ronke, Bushey, UK
BNPs and the KKKs should go back and study the history of this country. The question they should attempt to answer should be where have we all come from?.. and if I may ask what are their fears? this country has been in existence for centuries, the socio-cultural and economic change that seems to threaten their indegenous identity is understandable but I see it as a natural phenomenon that shouldn't cause any panic or drive any one to the extreme of identity protectionism.
BNP is not the answer to the seemingly diminishing english identity and culture-'if that is their worries I assume' but knowing and understanding the history and culture of where you come from and upholding it with dignity and pride, so that foreigners who come here will have no option other than to respect it, that was what the sensible fore-fathers did and that's the reason today English is spoken in vast majority of the nations of the world, they upheld their values and culture with such dignity and style, such that some royalties around the world adopted them. Today we have lazy , uninformed idiots who come together like bunch of disgruntled goats crying about this colour and that colour taking over our country. wake up keda!!
- Gift, Liverpool
The BBC were superbly brave to invite Nick Griffin on to Question time. I applaud them for this and for their excellent choices in panel members to go alongside him. Bonnie Greer was outstandingly calm and collected and how she restrained from slapping Griffin at his worst moments on the show, I do now know. I only wish this could have been an extended question time because there was so much more to be said.
- Lucy, Edinburgh (and London)
Hello London,
Oh how the mighty fall, just give them enough rope?.
Please can anyone tell me why Mr Griffin was wearing a poppy?.
I always watch Question Time,but I would of liked more debate on other issues and the take on them by the B.N.P. and the other panelists.
- John L., Scarborough N.YKS. England. U.K.
Griffin is perfectly capable of tripping himself up like all classic bullies, so there was no need whasoever to 'gang up' on him, proving that political manipulation was hard at work behind the controlling of the programme.
Slimey 'Jack Straw' was exactly the same shifty creep he has always been, evading questions by distraction as many times as Griffin wobbled in answering them. The difference was, Straw was allowed to by Dimbleby but Griffin was badgered.
David Cameron boobed in not having the guts to put any of his MP's forward and relying on the way too pushy
Baroness Warsi. Not a sign of confidence by Cameron but of evasion.
Chris Huhne was stopped from developing any of his answers yet again by Dimbleby's unbalanced control of proceedings.
Bonnie Greer was being Bonnie Greer.
85% of the problems in putting on a programme like that were caused by the inflamatory repetition on all media about how Griffin would be on the programme.
Even if it was not announced he would be on until introducing the panel, the same programme could still have been broadcast without all the hype that preceded it. That is what was wrong, it was blown up deliberately by politicians and the compliant BBC board because it was guaranteed to increase viewing figures, suiting both parties.
Footbal hooligans would not travel the world to show off on TV Worldwide if nobody was watching them, it is all media hyped the same way.
Griffin got the publicity he wanted big time.
- Ken.H, Harrow. UK
Bonnie you are a nice woman, but you've participated in a nasty bullying stitch up which has probably increased Gfiffin's support more than anything else has that I can remember.
- Tj, London
It said it all when Griffin kept referring to 'indigenous' Brits as 'English'!!! Would the British flag then become the St George's if the BNP ruled Brittania?? What an ignorant moron, it was good for us all to see that there is nothing of substance behind the BNP's racist views and the man leading their ridiculous organisation is a vacuous twit.
- Dan O., London
Great show, however, it seemed to me it was all about the BNP and Nick getting shouted down and jeered at. Yes, he ideas are idiotic and wrong, but by shouting him down, not letting him speak in my opinion allows people to give him sympathy. Sympathy he doesn't really deserve. His comments about homosexuality particularly spoke volumes to me about the intelligence and views of this man, and I sure hope to God the BNP will never reach any aspect of power whatsoever. However I was not impressed with Jack Straw's performance whatsoever. Main parties really need to buck their ideas up!
- Kameron, Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Bonnie, you were wonderful and a pleasure to watch, proud to have you as a fellow citizen. It was really heartening to hear how your father found ordinary Brits warm and welcoming toward him, compared with the racists he encountered in the States in his youth. But whilst you were perhaps academically correct about there being no "pure" indigenous race here due to the waves of immigration over the centuries, the majority of us do have long family lines in these isles. The problem with the BNP is that they confuse rights of incumbents with purity of blood. Their opinions on mixed race people, having broken some so-called sacred blood line, are foul. These people are just as indigenous having ancestral lines here too. Colour does not matter, we're all human.
- Alex, London
What a disappointment. Not because Griffin was a bumbling idiot, which was entirely predictable, but because the other panellists, given a heaven-sent opportunity to shine, were so unimpressive. Griffin's views may be odious, but there is general concern throughout the land that too many people are being packed into this tight little island. The BNP milks this concern shamelessly, with the intent of dividing races, but the main parties merely respond with mumbled platitudes about better controls. Most British voters being neither racist nor even nationlistic, are entitled to be concerned about how a fallen superpower with a ruinous economy is going to be able to support a population (apparently) heading for 70 million within the lifetimes of most of its citizens. Jack Straw last night evaded this and other questions with the same shifty mien that has brought all politicians, on both sides of the house, into disrepute. Shame on him, and his kind for allowing idiots like Griffin to gain such prominence. The country needs a plan, Jack. Give us one, and make sure it's believable.
- John Jessop, Esher, Surrey
Well done Dimbleby. Now will you put the same question about holocaust denial to the next extremist muslim panelist?
- Robert, ex-londoner
The BBC was very early with its Christmas Panto this year.
Griffin and the BNP won't have won any votes from middle-class liberals but will be able, as the party's spokesman was doing on 5Live this morning, to make much of its self-appointed status as the victim party in appealing for support from those who feel similarly victimised and disenfranchised.
- Neil, Bedford, England
I could not agree with you more, Paul Barnard of Norwich.Bonnie Greer was fantastic.So cool so relaxed.I would love to see her on a one to one Debate Programme with Mick Griffin.
Have you seen him whinging on TV News to day? It has all back fired on him.A credible politian dont make me Laugh,although he is a joke.
I want to see more of Bonnie on the TV,and I would be very happy to buy her a A lrage Vodka any time.The best TV in a long time
- Selwyn Channon, Epsom
Too much time was given to BNP questions/personal questions about Griffin - the most telling response was when a 'standard' question was raised about Gately/Moir - when Griffins came out with his comments on homosexuality! It would have been far better to let him hang himself with his own words on other 'standard' questions rather than the changed format prepared for this show.
Griffin talks of a lynch mob - perhaps now he understands the tactics of the BNP when used against others!
- Andy, london
Bizzare behouviour from Griffin; trying to be 'friends' with Bonnie Greer! She's a bit odd though; Winston Churchill was a red indian, eh?
- Jules_London, london
It makes me laugh when people say that the only reason (a tiny minority) of people vote for the BNP is because they distrust the mainstream parties.
Why not vote for UKIP or the Greens if you want to register your disgust?
No, the (National Front Version 2.0) BNP gathers 98% of their membership/votes from that section of the British electorate who are bigoted and racist @ heart.
The remaining 2% of their support comes from those who are deluded/ill-informed about what the core values of the BNP are and what they would really do should they ever gain any real political power.
Not a lefty stitch-up, just a mismatch of intellect, honesty and integrity.
The mainstream parties may sometimes seem as bad as each other, but at least they are open to all sections of the population to join and participate in the workings of their party!!
- Pj, Northampton, England
The real issue of people voting BNP as a protest vote over unprecedented waves of econonomic immigration was only briefly touched on - when it was, jack Straw sttarted looking a bit shifty himself.
- Derek, London
I thought it was a good programme and a good demonstration of democracy in action. Personally it would have been intersting to have some of Griffin's supporters ask some questions because contrary to some of the stupid comments on this board, there were supporters in the audience.
- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London
That's right, congratulate yourselves that you've seen off that racist buffoon, meanwhile - continue to totally ignore the mass Muslim immigration that will engineer a demographic and cultural revolution across Europe in the next 20 years, with the consequent growth of Sharia, a totalitarian system wholly at odds with the Judaeo/Christian/humanist ethos of the continent. When it comes to fiddling while Rome burns, you can't hold a candle to dumb white liberals.
- Dominic, london
Presumably there are one or two of these white supremacist nutters in the states?
- Dan, London UK
More example that democracy and free speech is very precarious. Good for the BBC is allowing this free speech which indeed illustrated what Nick Griffin stands for allowed the panel and the audience to have a go at him much for effectively than attending any BNP meeting.
- Edwin Underhill, beaconsfield, bucks
The whole show was farsical a hand picked audience of middle class educated individuals and panel with the sole intention of shooting Nick Griffin down, to say he was isolated would be putting it mildly.
- David Webster, Worksop England
There is a saying that one should let people think you are an idiot rather than speaking to remove any doubt.
The one concern I had and have, because I would like more of these open forums for the BNP, is that there was too much by way of concerted attacks on Nick Griffin which is a complete waste of time and effort because no one needs to know how disgusted people are with what they stand for. This is praesumo presumo.
What is intriguing is what the mainstream political elite think is the cause of so many traditional Labour voters in the north west of England and east end of London, choosing the BNP to represent them at local and European level ?
When Nick Griffin was allowed to string more than two sentences together without being shouted down, he noticeably struggled to maintain the veneer of moderation (the "non violent' KKK reference was a priceless slip) and thus the more he speaks in as public a forum as possible with people who are willing to confront the issues rather than simply express the tautologous abhorrence of the BNP, the quicker support for the BNP will evaporate
- John, Twickenham
How pathetic i sat with my back to him and felt like giving him a slap!!!!! how democratic is that typical egg.
- Steve, England
Nick Griffion has a lot in common with David Cameron apart from his looks and cheesy smile. They have both denied their past beliefs and have changed their Parties in an attempt to get more votes. Cameron wrote the 20055 Tory Manifesto that he now says he totally disagrees with.
- D Dare, Kenton England
I thought she came accross as arrogant. Particularly when Mr. Griffin admitted to meeting the leader of the KKK. Ms.Greer's response was that of someone who knew far better than he despite the fact that she has quite clearly never been near a KKK member for obvious reasons.
Mr. Griffin came accross as a normal person, nervous under the circumstances but genuine.
- Jimbob, Kensington
I'm glad she out-witted this odious, oily man. However: I can DOCUMENT my ancestry in direct descent over more than 1,000 years in England. My ancestors range from royalty to cow-herds - they've tilled fields, paid taxes and died in battle for their country to make England the sort of place that people from genuinely oppressive and regressive cultures wish to live in, and I resent someone who acquired 'citizenship' to the UK 11 years ago saying that there is "no such thing as the indegenous English people".
If you want to live in someone else's country, you should do so because you know, like and understand the way they do things there: it is not necessary to lose one's own cultural identity, but to accept that the host people's way of doing things is the status quo: the same applies to the little cliques of English I find here in France. England is packed to the gills with people who have moved to live there for economic reasons but who have no love or respect for English people or culture - worse, any English person who has been upset by this has been labelled 'Fascist' in order to shut them up. There is a huge gulf between English people who would like their own culture to be respected by new arrivals, and Nick Griffin and his views on homosexuals, the holocaust and race. I note that all the panellists other than Nick Griffin are decended from immigrants, so those with views like mine are suppressed by poor representation. What's to do but leave?
- Roz, France
I think the point about BNP has been missed here. People will vote BNP, not to support the BNP, but to send a clear message that they are sick of the perception of uncontrolled immigration, and the effect it has on the local community.
Why are the immigration issues not being discussed with the major parties?
Why are the major party leaders not explaining their parties immigration policies?
As I lifelong Tory voter, I am already thinking that my 'protest' vote will go to UKIP. Even though I am aware that that may split the difference, and allow the disastrous Labour Party to form a coalition.
- William Becket, London, England
Sorry to take a contrary view but this all just looked like a typical BBC liberal lefty west-end of London stitch-up in cohoots with the anti-fascists. It just shows that the anti-fascists (aka. communists) are even worse lovers of bullying and blood sports than the fascists themselves.
- Thomas, London
Griffin was no orator nor was he prepared. However Jack Straw was a ducking and diving politician who evaded questions and who clearly showed why the BNP was able to gather protest votes. A man and Goverment of straw !
- Nigel Howse, Tunbridge Wells
I wasn't impressed by Bonnie Greer's performance. All I saw was a demonstration of ill-mannered sarcasm, a shaky grasp of British history, a unfortunate attempt to present herself as an academic and a gratuitous mention of the British Museum.
- Lawrence, Highgate, UK
I abhor all forms of bigotry - whether from the extreme left with their growing antisemitism and christianophobia or the from extreme right with their ignorant and nasty racist agenda.
Bonnie Greer was superb. She handled the debate with real dignity and wisdom. It was the right approach and exposed the ignorance of the hatemongers.
- Ricky, Hackney, London
You know I cannot help thinking what all the fuss was about? If anyone thinks that swathes of people will suddenly vote for the BNP because of an appearance on Question Time, then they are very insecure and do not understand the people of this country.
Let's have some more mature public debates with them, let's discuss the issues. After last nights performance the more the better.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
I think I must have watched a very different show to the one Mrs "I'm not a politican, my background's in culture" Greer thinks she was on. She was useless, as was Jack Straw. Thankfully, Baroness Warsi, Mr Huhne and Mr Dimbleby and the audience were not and they did a good job of exposing Griffin.
- St, London
The real losers on last night's Question Time were Jack Straw and Chris Huhne. Jack Straw came across as evasive and shifty - particularly on immigration policy. Chris Huhne was shrill - most other Liberals would have been better. The effect of the BBC's change in its regular format was to create the impression of playground bullies ganging up on Nick Griffin (same with the audience).
Nick Griffin's views are the same as those you will hear in most pubs or football grounds or army units anywhere in the country. He is what he is. What he said may be abhorrent to the political elite but it represents what a lot of people think.
If Gordon Brown introduces AV,commentators may be surprised at how many first preferences the BNP receive - even if they don't actually get many elected representatives.
The BNP would have been better tackled by letting Nick Griffin express his views on regular topics (postal strike, Ed Balls' bullying etc)
If 6% of the vote is to be properly represented by the BBC, they should be on about 25% of the time since that is their percentage of the Labour and Conservative votes.
However my real point is that journalists need to change their paradigm if they are to properly understand the "BNP phenomenon" and report it correctly.
- Alastair, London UK
Bonnie did OK. Grandstanding - such as the mainstream politicians indulged in - doesn't work in these situations: it's the quiet ones that get the real points across. In that respect David Dimbleby handled the occasion brilliantly, and fully justified the BBC's decision to invite this individual.
- John Polenski, Barmouth, Wales
Some people might say that last night we saw the right-thinking London elite ganging up on Griffin to show off their correct attitudes.
Certainly they showed him up but I don't think that did his cause any harm.
- David In England, Canterbury UK
Bonnie Greer last night - fantastic. I could listen to her all night and to sit next to that obnoxious creep took great courage and restraint - well done Bonnie!
- Paul Barnard, Norwich, Norfolk
