He came through a back entrance, to avoid the main protest (below). Relatively little resistance, the main obstacles weren’t anti-fascists but a gaggle of photographers and a difficulty in getting the gate open.
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Tag Archives: question time
Nick Griffin arrives at BBC Television Centre
David Dimbleby cleared to grill Nick Griffin on holocaust denial during Question Time
While steadfastly defending the Beeb’s decision to invite Nick Griffin onto Question Time, director general Mark Thompson has told the Guardian that the BNP leader will be “challenged tenaciously” on the programme. David Dimbleby has been given the green light to raise issues such as holocaust denial.
In other developments:
- 400 police will be on duty and a plan is in place to get Griffin into the building “in a timely and safe manner”.
- The BNP reportedly explored the possibility of chartering a private helicopter to ferry their leader before the BBC told them there was nowhere suitable to land.
- Filming has been brought forward by two hours to 6:30pm to allow time for scuffles to be edited out.
- An alternative secret venue have been prepared in the event that filming at Television Centre is prevented for some reason.
- Radio 4 Word of Mouth presenter Michael Rosen has criticised the appearance of Griffin, saying the BBC “were relishing” the ratings.
- Renowned legal expert Peter Hain QC is still giving out free advice.
Eleven hours to go!
Griffin restrained as BNP activists salivate over Question Time appearance
When interviewed by Adam Boulton for Sky News yesterday, Nick Griffin was keen to play down the importance of his appearance on BBC Question Time this Thursday*:
“I don’t think it’ll be a particularly important event. Question Time is about various political personalities. It shouldn’t be about sniping against each other, it should be about answering the questions of the day but either way it’s not going to change the world.”
Good to see the left arm knows what the right is doing at the BNP, whose website barely mentions … oh, wait a minute …
Leaving aside the fact that Jack Straw looks poised to assault Griffin with a countdown timer, this isn’t exactly downplaying things. And then there’s a series of “Question Time participant profiles”.
The BNP are virtually weeing themselves with excitement.
* Amusing contradictions aside, the tone adopted by Griffin for this interview will probably be consistent with that for this Thursday.
Jack Straw, Sayeeda Warsi, Chris Huhne and Bonnie Greer to face BNP leader on Question Time
The addition of Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi to BBC Question Time on 22 October completes a lineup of Chris Huhne, Jack Straw and Bonnie Greer to appear alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin.
Reaction on the blogs has been mute, with Sunny Hundal questioning the appropriateness of a softly spoken, middle class American playwright (flanked by two white, middle class frontbenchers) to take on Nick Griffin:
“Middle class people generally hate cheap populism and the use of emotion to make political points. They prefer ‘rational argument’. Fuck that. The way to destroy the BNP is through emotional narratives and populism.” – Sunny Hundal
Further reaction available from Nothing British and ConservativeHome [will update this later this with more as it comes in]. The Times also has something from earlier today mooting Warsi as a possibility while arguing that William Hague would have been the better choice.
Scrapbook can’t promise not to shout at the TV.
Debate rages over 'no platform' policy for Nick Griffin on Question Time
One of the website’s best exchanges is taking place at LabourList over the potential inclusion of the BNP’s Nick Griffin on the Question Time panel.
Leading the charge to stick our fingers in our ears and go ‘la la la la la not listening’:
- Ellie Levenson (author, Tottenham CLP) - The BNP: No platform, no exceptions
- Tom Miller (PPC for Woking) - Oposing no platform misses the point
In the sensible corner:
- James Alexander (PPC for York Outer) – No platform is dead
- Olly Deed (Surrey Labour Students)- A response to no platformers
In these serious times, however, you have to laugh:
It’s not the 1980s anymore.
A blanket ‘no platform’ is dead as an effective strategy.
Hat tip (second this week): The W*nk Rag
Alan Johnson rules himself out of BNP Question Time appearance
Contradicting Francis Elliot’s article in The Times last week, Alan Johnson yesteday ruled himself out of a Question Time appearance alongside Nick Griffin (video). Pressed by Jon Sopel on the Politics Show – “Definitely no? No way? not under any circumstances?” – Johnson responded:
“I’ve gone 59 years without sharing a platform with a fascist and don’t intend to start doing it now”
They had better find someone soon.
Brown backs Straw to tackle BNP on Question Time?
Following the announcement this week that Labour is to drop its policy on sharing a platform with the BNP, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is the latest name touted to appear on Question Time alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin.
According to Lancaster Unity, Gordon Brown is taking a “personal interest” in the issue and favours Jack Straw, whose Blackburn constituency has one of the highest levels of immigration in the country, as the man to take on the BNP.
“We have to put up a heavyweight, otherwise we will be accused of giving Griffin too easy a time of it.” – Labour Party source
“Street smart and funny” Home Secretary Alan Johnson has signalled he is willing to appear, while Labour blogger Chris Paul has suggested Billy Bragg, Meera Syal or someone else with the “means to ridicule his nastiness”.
For fear of sparking unrest in areas of racial tension, BBC sources have confirmed that the edition featuring the BNP will be filmed in London.