Democracy in action / Nick Griffin and the BNP

There has been an enormous amount of discussion over the last week or so as to whether leader of the far right BNP, Nick Griffin, should have been invited onto last night’s popular political show ’BBC Question Time’.  Like it or lump it, the BNP party has been gaining support over recent months and I think it would be a big mistake, in a democratic society, not to allow them equal opportunity to air their views.  It’s an old, tried and true fact of life that once you ban something there is automatically more interest in it.  Anyone remember the book ‘Spycatcher?  It became ‘The’ book to read here in UK, despite being banned, yet my husband, who obtained a copy via the US (sneaky) said it was a complete and utter yawn. 

I kicked myself when I realised this morning that I’d missed Question Time because I really wanted to see how Nick Griffin had fared amongst what was almost undoubtedly a hostile audience.  Fortunately the BBC have a handy dandy iPlayer (…and yes, why is everything an ‘i’ this and ‘i’ that nowadays)?  If you missed it too, here’s the link – it is an hour long programme by the way.  It’s fascinating stuff.  I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to how NG did, and whether he has drummed up yet more support or in fact alienated many potential supporters.  This, for me, is democracy in action.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nft24/Question_Time_22_10_2009/