There doesn't appear to be a thread on this and I found it quite suprising as debates on the BNP have raged across this forum in the past.
Last night the UK's far right ultra nationalist party the BNP had their leader appear on a legitimate political discussion show on our state sponsored television channel, the BBC.
Some have argued that allowing him to appear legitimises his party, others have argued that as they hold 2 European MP's that it is right for the BBC to include the BNP in the programming and that it is up to viewers to decide. Certainly, it has been something of a publicity coup and the show reached 8 million viewers, half of the active television viewing public in the UK last night.
On the show Griffin received a hostile reception, he was called out on his views, his facts and figures, and it was highlighted that he runs a hate based political organisation. He was even called out on his presenting his party using moderate and saleable language with a view to change once in power (with supporting video evidence referenced in the program which I have since viewed myself and it is indeed true, Griffin appears on a podium with a former KKK leader and says that they must use saleable rhetoric and reveal their full manifesto only once in power).
The audience too was mostly hostile, whilst outside the studio protests against the BNP being validified by this appearance turned violent and 6 police officers where injured as the crowd tried to gain entry to the studio.
During the show the chair gave ample opportunity to Nick Griffin to speak, and even silenced interuptions and heckling from the panel and audience to allow him to do so - but Griffin presented a poor image of himself and his party and was unable to justify his political views.
He cited scientific reports (which i've read up on) where the BNP appear to use selective quoting to support their ideals, and as fellow panelist Bonnie Greer pointed out their website's "history" of Britain is an aweful distortion of fact.
Greer has since stated that Griffin was shaking during the show, and commented that he appeared completely unable to defend his views. Suggesting if anything that the editing of the show broadcast itself plays down Griffin poor performance and grants him more credit as a public speaker. None-the-less, Griffin gave a poor account of his parties views and policies.
Since he has attacked the BBC and asked for a repeat appearance, asking to discuss "issues of the day" and not his parties extremism. He has also asked for an hour long one-on-one broadcast against Jack Straw to discuss "issues of the day". It would appear that Griffin is using this opportunity to portray himself as the victim of a "lynch mob" (his choice of words) and wants us to disregard his seedy faschism and hate based politics and give him the chance to appear as a moderate.
The ramifications of his appearance will take a while to settle down, as the BNP try to use this as a platform to snowball popular support in their favour in a similar way as the French nationalists did a few years ago.
Personaly I feel very concerned that inspite of the poor performance the BNP may be able to use this as a political springboard. The darkest future I can imagine for Britain is the BNP in power (with Sharia Law being implemented as a close second).
Last night the UK's far right ultra nationalist party the BNP had their leader appear on a legitimate political discussion show on our state sponsored television channel, the BBC.
Some have argued that allowing him to appear legitimises his party, others have argued that as they hold 2 European MP's that it is right for the BBC to include the BNP in the programming and that it is up to viewers to decide. Certainly, it has been something of a publicity coup and the show reached 8 million viewers, half of the active television viewing public in the UK last night.
On the show Griffin received a hostile reception, he was called out on his views, his facts and figures, and it was highlighted that he runs a hate based political organisation. He was even called out on his presenting his party using moderate and saleable language with a view to change once in power (with supporting video evidence referenced in the program which I have since viewed myself and it is indeed true, Griffin appears on a podium with a former KKK leader and says that they must use saleable rhetoric and reveal their full manifesto only once in power).
The audience too was mostly hostile, whilst outside the studio protests against the BNP being validified by this appearance turned violent and 6 police officers where injured as the crowd tried to gain entry to the studio.
During the show the chair gave ample opportunity to Nick Griffin to speak, and even silenced interuptions and heckling from the panel and audience to allow him to do so - but Griffin presented a poor image of himself and his party and was unable to justify his political views.
He cited scientific reports (which i've read up on) where the BNP appear to use selective quoting to support their ideals, and as fellow panelist Bonnie Greer pointed out their website's "history" of Britain is an aweful distortion of fact.
Greer has since stated that Griffin was shaking during the show, and commented that he appeared completely unable to defend his views. Suggesting if anything that the editing of the show broadcast itself plays down Griffin poor performance and grants him more credit as a public speaker. None-the-less, Griffin gave a poor account of his parties views and policies.
Since he has attacked the BBC and asked for a repeat appearance, asking to discuss "issues of the day" and not his parties extremism. He has also asked for an hour long one-on-one broadcast against Jack Straw to discuss "issues of the day". It would appear that Griffin is using this opportunity to portray himself as the victim of a "lynch mob" (his choice of words) and wants us to disregard his seedy faschism and hate based politics and give him the chance to appear as a moderate.
The ramifications of his appearance will take a while to settle down, as the BNP try to use this as a platform to snowball popular support in their favour in a similar way as the French nationalists did a few years ago.
Personaly I feel very concerned that inspite of the poor performance the BNP may be able to use this as a political springboard. The darkest future I can imagine for Britain is the BNP in power (with Sharia Law being implemented as a close second).