Far-right leader's TV appearance causes furore in UK
The appearance of a far-right leader on a flagship BBC programme caused a firestorm today, with rows over racism and censorship and claims it would help win support for his party in next year's elections.
During the heated Thursday panel show, the British National Party's Nick Griffin defended having once shared a platform with a Ku Klux Klan leader, and said he had never been convicted for denying the Holocaust and criticised gays and Islam.
National newspapers today were united in condemnation of Griffin with headlines such as "Bigot at Bay" and "I'm the most loathed man in Britain", while the BNP leader accused the programme's audience of being a lynch mob.
Analysts said Griffin's exposure on national television would probably benefit the BNP, which won nearly a million votes, six percent of the total, and two seats in June European parliamentary polls.
"I'm sure it has unfortunately in the long term done them some good," said Ivor Gaber, Professor of Political Campaigning at City University in London.
"The format turned into a Daniel in the lion's den and would have created some traditional British sympathy for the underdog. We know that any attention tends to benefit parties," he said.
Under fire from some critics for deciding to put Griffin on as a panellist with mainstream politicians, the BBC said that Question Time's usual audience of around 2.5 million people had been boosted to eight million on Thursday night.
"This very large audience clearly demonstrates the public's interest in seeing elected politicians being scrutinised by the public themselves ... the BBC is firm in its belief that it was appropriate for Mr Griffin to appear," Mark Byford, deputy director of the BBC, said.
The BNP said it was unhappy about the format of the programme, which concentrated almost entirely on the party rather than dealing with Question Time's usual wide range of issues.
"The British public ... are aghast by the display of bias from the BBC, the venom from the political class, and the sheer unfairness," Griffin told a news conference. "That was not a genuine Question Time, that was a lynch mob."
The BNP would be lodging a formal complaint, he said.
POOR, URBAN VOTE
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, once a vocal campaigner against apartheid, was sharply critical of the BBC, saying: "The BBC should be ashamed of single-handedly doing a racist, fascist party the biggest favour in its grubby history."
Some 500 people, waving placards reading "Stop the Fascist BNP", protested outside the BBC complex in London yesterday. Six people were arrested and three police officers were hurt.
The party, which wants voluntary repatriation of immigrants, has won support in some urban areas among a white working class suffering from recession, competing for jobs and services with immigrants and disillusioned with the political mainstream.
Justin Fisher, Professor of Political Science at Brunel University, said it was a terrible night for the BNP and that Griffin had performed badly when his policies were scrutinised.
"What has created a space for the BNP is in part people not voting," he said. "It's a gift for parties like that, and of course they exploit rule changes such as proportional representation systems in the European Parliament."
The BNP has no seats in the national parliament but will field hundreds of candidates in an election due by next June.
Some political commentators have noted that Jean-Marie Le Pen, veteran leader of France's far-right National Front, used his television debut on a similar French political show in 1984 to bolster support and recognition.
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colin stanley
Oct 24th 2009, 21:16
@Dr. Fabri, I am sorry for putting you in the same boat as the other immigrants, I shouldn't have mentioned your name. but what I said about those times are true, all the people that went to England in the 50's and 60's., you remember Enoch Powell, used to tell parliament, to send them home but they use to laugh at him,I think he was right. by the way I never said that I am English, my father was, he came here in the navy,in the war, and actually fought for his country and ours.I was born here but still when I was 18 years, I still had to choose between, English or Maltese, obviously, I choose Malta.
Edwin Farrugia
Oct 24th 2009, 15:46
This Mr.Stanley got a cheek to call us immigrants milking thier system, i think an appropriate apology would be in order don't you think Colin Stanley. Mr. Fabri is a retired reputable and honest solictor so don't come out with all that usual British arrogance & rudenss and PLEASE think before you open your big Gob. THanks and cheers to you. Edwin Farrugia Ex-Pat. UK
Mr.George Fabri Senior(retired sol).
Oct 24th 2009, 15:39
Ref Mr.Stanley>>> i hardly think so my ENGLISH FRIEND????????? PLEASE DO NOT GENERALIZE ALL IMMIGRANTS most have a responsible position in your country just as mine was then a few years back when i was there, a practicing solicitor, so please when you say Mr.Fabri am i one of your so called immigrants milking your system i would rethink your comment very carefully before jumping in head first like most Britains do, i don't think somehow they are all milking your precious system, without your immigrants beit Black, coloured or white your country would be in dire straits, One Example ie.***, Your hospital staff are mainly run by immigrant nurses, doctors,specialists, factroy works and not FORGETTING YOUR POSTAL WORKERS!! and ofcourse others that do all sorts or menial work that most of the English or British do not for one min. attempt to do, so please do not preach to me or any of our inteligent Maltese about your problems its an insult to my country men who emmigrated to the UK as alot of these people are contributing to Britian's present economy and future progress. Thankyou and Good Day to you Sir, welocme to my Beautiful peaceful/SUNNY Malta sir.
MSciberras
Oct 24th 2009, 14:54
Saw Griffin on BBC. He attracts a justified protest vote from - my how carefully I must tread in choosing my words!!! - er, white Britons whose ancestors were probably British AT LEAST two hundred years ago - who are concerned how, in 2 generations, whole British towns are, and there is no way you can dispute this, no longer British, or English, its your choice. Take Jack Straw. In one of his reponses, he mentioned that fact that Burnley is 30% Asian and used that as a platform to attack Griffin. Well Griffin is loathsome but Straw should have shut up. Immigrtation is fine but only when its SUSTAINABLE - it isnt and this is why people vote BNP. You cannot argue that you have sustainable immigration with statistics like that. Half the pop in Birmingham will be of Asian / balck origin in a few years and Balckburn would qualify as the richest city in the Middle East - if it actually was there. Condoleeza Rice was shocked to discover that the Lab minister - Jack Straw? - who represents Blackburn had to pander to such a constituency, including maintaining relations with the abhorrent Muslim Council of GB.
colin stanley
Oct 24th 2009, 13:24
No wonder british ??? people went to protest against Mr. Griffen,ofthe BNP Party,as Mr. FAbri saidthe British ain't what they used to be, Do you blame them !! my father was ENGLISH not British and he came from Brixton in London,in those days English people lived there , then in the fiftiesthey brought in the Africans, then the Indians,Pakistanis,Chinese,Maltese, now they have all the poor from eastern Europe,Rssians,Romanian,Bulgarian,Albanian,etc etc. Do you really think that the English are happy with this situation, my cousin still lives in Norwood, and she says that somtimes on the bus she is,the only English speaking person. A lot of them milking the social services, Mr. Fabri, are you one of them.
Mr.George Fabri
Oct 24th 2009, 11:33
Listening to the BBC and watching the interview with the Far-right Leader indirectly basing himself in the same category as Adolf Hitler amongst other wanabes dictators, he proved to be a bigger idiot they most thought he is, although regarding immigration just like my Malta in a way makes sense but i personally wouldn't vote for him, and i would suggest my Maltese brothers and sisters thinking or contemplating working in Britian the way things are over here at this moment in time with the worst recession for the last 50 years since records began i would suggest them to think again as it will not be an easy ride, and comparing our soft touch with immigrants in Malta and working also in malts comparing the two countries is like fire and water as the British ain't what they used to be. When the brits are on holiday in malta they act completely different then back home in their country so beware of false expressions on their faces, i know by experience, actually in a way i don't blame them,but then again one can't paint every English person with the same brush.,apparently 65% would NOT vote for this far-right leader.
Joe Fenech
Oct 24th 2009, 10:51
The UK is one of the few 'civilised' countries where even mentioning a far-right party causes outrage. 'Democratic' UK has also published lists of people adhering to the party. Scandalous!!!
Traditional politicians just want to hold on to their seat and nothing else . They are fully aware that parties like the BNP, Front National etc are in phase with reality while they aren't!
Albert Fenech
Oct 24th 2009, 10:51
'Labour let in migrants 'to engineer multicultural UK'
This is a news headline from The Daily Mail.
Multiculturalism wether you like it or not. Social engineering, European peoples genocide, call it what you want.
The political left have engineerd nothing more than a timebomb.Which European country will blow up first? It is inevitable.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222613/Labour-let-migrants-engineer-multicultural-UK.html
Charles Sammut
Oct 24th 2009, 05:26
Guess who used to call the Berlin Wall, the "Anti-Fascist Wall". Yes, them, the discredited Communists.
These same losers are now trying to do the same with parties which put the national interest first. But their underhand tactics are doomed to fail just like the great communist experiment did. With workers' support dwindling, their target is now immigrants and they will viciously attack anone who speaks against.
Garry Galea
Oct 23rd 2009, 23:24
@Galea, Yeah right Its an insult to all the war dead that died and fought againt fascism, It looks that history is repeating itself so its no welcome for me i can asure you that Brother and i am Maltese, so my motto is there is no place like home!
R.Galea
Oct 23rd 2009, 20:08
Welcome to Britain my Maltese brothers?