The BBC's Question Time has invited the leader of the BNP (British National Party) onto the panel for tonight's show. There has been a great deal of debate about the wisdom of so doing and there was an appeal to the BBC Trust to prevent the leader appearing but it was rejected. In this country there is a tradition of free speech. Anyone may declare their views and listeners are free to agree or otherwise.
Anti-Fascists are expected to protest outside BBC Television Centre. There will undoubtedly be scuffles and there is bound to be a good deal of heckling inside the studio.
I dislike the BNP's attitudes, policies, beliefs but they have a right to express them. What I strongly object to is their appropriation of the Union Flag as a symbol for their party. It implies respectability and representation of the majority of Britons. I would hate the rest of the world to associate our national flag with a Fascist party and I wish, without much hope, that the news channels would blot out the flag in pictures of the BNP leader. I suppose that would be considered a form of censorship.
I'm just about to watch the programme but I have already seen snippets on the news. Looks like he caused quite a stir but protesters getting violent won't help matters.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of the BNP either. It seems they are quite good at saying what they think a lot of disenchanted Brits want to hear. I'm sure that's how they have managed to get their votes. I do think the BBC were right to let him on the programme and I just hope he is out-talked and his party exposed in all its ugliness.
I think you're absolutely right in that a lot of Brits are disenchanted but I hope they will realise he's not going to provide the right or acceptable answers.
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