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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The appearance of the BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question Time do you think it was right for him to appear? Was it right for him to voice his opinion

Were you For or Against his appearance?

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:30 am Post subject:

Of course it was right for him to be allowed to appear on QT, the last time I heard, this is a democratic country.
I was more angry about the mob violence and destruction by the public on the outside of the building!

I think it was purely a Nick Griffin bash from both panel and audience and not for a moment did I think the audience represented the UK population! all a bit of a farce really.

I would have liked Dimbleby to put a stop to the constant barracking and cross talk from the other panel members which wasted so much time.

The American woman got on my nerves by stalling the "debate" with her constant back tracking as to the origins of the UK population.... ice age?? c'mon! Rolling Eyes

but then, I feel, put her foot in it by saying "her Mother in Law - a true Brit..." Shocked

so what is her version of a true Brit? if Griffen had said that all hell would have been let loose.

I'd like to see him on again if only for the fact that his views may stir the mainstream QT panelists into speaking their minds for once! something this country desperately needs.
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Maybe Mr Griffin should have be pressed on other policies. Maybe he should have been asked about Postal Strike, The Ecomomy, The Banking crises and MP's Expenses? I think it would be good for him to be questioned on these in the future in front of a panel and TV audience.

Briant · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject:

I didn't see the programme, but I think he and his mates are just thugs. Rolling Eyes

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

My hope was that putting him on the programme would show up the poverty of his ideas and expose him to cross-examination. This hope appears to have been met.

Ian.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I was against his appearance on the show. The BNP are a fascist party in spite of nick's attempts to sanitise them.
I thought the show was flawed on several levels. Firstly, I believe Question Time should be a place to hear the major parties to debate the issues of the day- Basicly Labour & Conservative. I am even dubious about the tiny Lib Dems being given a place on every show.
I certainly opposed the Greens & UKIP being on the show.
So my opposition to BNP appearance is entirely consistent.
An added objection to the BNP appearance is that they are a fascist, racist parties. Many of their leading members have convictions for GBH & the racist & holocaust "jokes" their members spout are abhorent.

As to the actual show, it was entirely centred on Nick Griffin & did not follow the usual format of diverse questions, which was wrong.

As to Nick himself, I am non plussed. I am a proud Jew and anti-racist, & anti-semites and racists of all hues usually make my blood boil.
But even as Nick tried to make light of his Holocaust denial & swiftly backtracking on his odious quotes - that Hitler "went a little too far" & distance himself from his previous anti-semitic & racist comments- I found myself smiling rather than getting angry.
The guy seemed amiable, laughing, trying to get matey with Bonnie Greer.

It was imposible to take him seriously, maybe that is why I could not get annoyed.

He denied making certain abhorant statements, then admitted that he had, saying he "didn't know why" he had said that, but that he had changed his mind.

The guy is brighter than he seems, & though exposed by the other panelists, there was a danger of him being seen as a victim & picked on.

Where i think the other paneslists missed a trick was in trying to deny there was such a thing as an "indigenous" British population.
Of course there are people who are "indigenous" to these islands.
Admitting that fact is NOT to concede the BNP's asertion that people not "indiginous" to these islands are not British or have no right to live here.
Just as no one would deny that GW Bush or Mohamed Ali are Americans, they are not "indigenous" Americans.
The anti-racists should admit this. While Lenny Henry and David Milliband, for example, are not "indigenous" to these Islands, they are never the less totally British citizens. Admitting this stregnthens the anti racist argument, not weakens it

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I thought he came across as an obnoxious little sh1t, laughing at inappropriate times, denying he had said things when he clearly had.
I don't think he should have been on the program in the first place but I don't think he's done himself any favours by going on it.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

Minx · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject:

I thought he was pathetic. And for me, all the fears that had been expressed (that he might have articulated a view that might have increased his following )were completely negated. He spent all his time squirming under the onslaught, coming across as a complete ...er... can't quite grasp the right word that would be acceptable on this forum, and the performance amounted to zilch. As, I believe, do his policies.
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To err is human, to forgive - canine.

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 439 Location: In the village

I was for Griffen appearing on QT in the hope that he would make a bit of an idiot out of himself. He exceeded my expectations wildly. What a smug, self-satisfied @rsehole. He was shown up to be a total intellectual lightweight completely out of his depth. Now he's complaining that he wasn't given a chance to discuss other issues, such as the postal dispute. Strange that, I didn't see hime even try once to move the topic away from race.

The only problem is that, as someone on Friday's Today programme said, "If you see three angels beating up the devil, you're going to start feeling sorry for the devil"
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I think it would be good for him to be given another airing on TV. I think ITV or Sky may jump on the bandwagon and question Griffen because they wouldn't want to be left behind.

I read that he may appear on Radio 4 Any questions.

Briant · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject:

I don't subscribe to Sky TV. I hear they are inviting their viewers to sign a petition for a TV debate between the three major parties. As Rupert Murdoch's newspapers are already backing the Conservatives, it would seem that he wants to be in control of our political system altogether! Rolling Eyes

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336