Many people in British politics have long been strongly attached to the “no platform” policy for racists.
Perhaps they should take care not to tune in to “Question Time” in future, for the sake of their blood pressure. Auntie seems to be going soft:
The BBC has confirmed it may invite British National Party leader Nick Griffin to appear on a future edition of the Question Time programme.
A spokesman said the BBC was bound by the rules to treat all political parties with “due impartiality”.
Talks are being held with other parties, some of whom have previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race.
But the BBC says no parties can dictate who should not be included on the show.
No BNP representatives have yet appeared on the BBC’s flagship panel show.
But the corporation has reviewed its position following the far-right party’s success in last June’s European elections, in which Mr Griffin was one of two BNP candidates to be elected as an MEP.
The BBC’s chief political adviser, Ric Bailey, said the BNP had now “demonstrated evidence of electoral support at a national level.”
He said this would be “reflected” in the amount of coverage the party received on BBC programmes such as Question Time.
Mr Bailey added: “The BBC is obliged to treat all political parties registered with the Electoral Commission and operating within the law with due impartiality.”
I don’t know if the BBC’s obligations might have allowed more wriggle room than Mr Bailey claims here.
But so what if they did. If appearances are limited to elected representatives, what’s wrong with the BBC’s decision? The BNP needs stopping. Surely roastings by fellow guests on the programme could help.
More than this kind of mass idiocy, anyway.
Here, by the way, is the “look at the smiles!” account of the ruck in Birmingham from the West Midlands Police, who now have a Youtube channel.
