Thread: A Question of Question Time

I suspect it will be a riot.
I would like to think reasoned debate will demolish the BNP but part of me hopes otherwise.
If Griffin comes out of Question Time tonight looking like somebody with a halfway reasoned argument then the only option for the mainstream parties will be to re-assess their postion on immigration issues.

I don't want Griffin to be a success but I do want the big three parties to deal with the issues.

Realistically I expect the audience to be stacked in oppostion to the BNP and the panel to behave in a fairly childish manner rather than engage in debate.

Will Griffin wear a black cape and use it to cover the lower half of his face while evenyone boos and hisses? Pantomime bad man. I think it is good that people will listen. I'm not saying I agree with him at all but I think he should be listened to. There are obviously some issue which he represents which need to action not just debate.

in my opinion if politicians are prepared to 'talk' to the taliban, alchieda and the IRA then they should not be scared or to up themselves to talk to the BNP

I think that as long as it doesn't become a hysterical screaming match Griffons presense there could possibly even stimulate the discussion into areas or views that the mainstream parties normally avoid.

Perhaps even an extremist could produce a good idea for the mainstreamers to use on subjects like the economy or health? who knows unless we hear him speak! as we know many politicians are too scared to say anything that looks non-PC so I'm quite looking forward to what I hope could be a frank and open discussion on subjects ranging from immigration and border control to looking after or creating british jobs (and by that I include all britons no matter their creed not just for white anglo saxons either!) Sadly though I fully expect flour bombers, radical muslims and lesbian communist femanist groups as well as 'holier than thou' mainstream politicians to hijack the event to make themselves look as if their shit doesn't stink!

Pouting no-bodies like Peter Hain just make me want to hear what Griffin has to say even more.

Let's hear their economic, education & defence policies. Though to be honest I was a bit scared by their last General Election pledge that anyone that had undergone formal military training, should be compelled to keep an assault rifle at home for civil defence. They likened it to the Swiss model but I fear it would be more like an vigilante mob. For me the first question asked of anyone that seeks to own a weapon is "Do you want a rifle/gun?". If the answer is "Yes" then they are clearly not the kind of people that should own a gun.

That particular piece of idiocy aside Griffin is not a stupid man, he's educated and he's got the balls to say what he believes. Whether I agree with him or not I want to hear him debate publically with those that seem to thnk they have the right to occupy the moral high ground in this country.

Roger, I fail to see your point about gun ownership and suspect that you are completely ignorant on such issues but that aside and lets get to the topic here:

The BNP is a legitimate political party. We claim to live in a democracy. I dont agree with their policies but I, my father, grandfather, and a lot of other people have fought, and in some cases died, to defend their right to be heard.

If it was a case of banning those whos views we dont like from question time then I would start by banning the current government.The fact that they (liarbour) have been so vocal in trying to censor the BNP makes me all the less inclined to like them and more inclined give the BNP a hearing.

I heard Red Ken on the radio this AM saying that the BBC should give BNP airtime only if ordered by a judge to do so and then only as much as was legally obligated. maybe we should apply the same rules to him.

Personally i think all the mainstream parties are currently scared that the minority parties may actually win some seats in the next GE as the public struggle to see the difference between, or the relevance of the mainstream parties to the real problems in society.

Edited for clarity

Can anyone actually tell me what their policies are? All they seem to spout on about is what they feel is wrong with the country, not how they intend to put it right. I bet if you mentioned the banking crisis and how would Nick Griffin put it right he would come out with the usual "Bonus" issue - and I dont mean shares!

I'm happy for the debate to go ahead, I want to hear "live" what he has to say. My belief is that "Cambridge educated" (Daily Express) Griffin will tie them up in knots. He is the master of half truth and unspoken comment (Shortt anyone?). What did he say when comparing the generals to the WW2 German generals? As I understand it, he said that the WW2 generals had ended up on trial for "following orders" and leading troops on an invasion into sovereign territory. Isn't that what "we" did?

Originally Posted by Blokeonabike

Roger, I fail to see your point about gun ownership and suspect that you are completely ignorant on such issues

Just me being trying to be funny I suppose and failing dismally. Seemed to spend more time cleaning my SLR than using it, maybe that clouded my thinking.

You are right about the mainstream parties. They are very happy when they can go on the telly or radio and trot out their "anyone opposed to multiculturalism is ignorant" line unchallenged but they get very uncomfortable when they may have to face somone with an opposing view in person.

Being sniffy and pious wont resolve the underlying perceptions & issues that have drawn people, rightly or wrongly, to the BNP.

I applaud Jack Straw for agreeing to debate. There was a suggestion that Griffin woudl not have shared a paltform with Diane Abbott - I suspect he would because she'd be easy to beat. The woman is, like Hain, a complete lightweight. Jack Straw isn't.

The BNP is a political party whether one likes it or not. therefore they have every right to be heard. This country is, after all, a democracy and everyone is entitled to their soapbox. If we can allow Muslim extremists to parade in the streets of London calling for the death of British service personnel and those who don't believe in Islam, then we can certainly allow a politician to be given a platform also.
Nick Griffin is no fool. He's been given a massive (and probably the only one he'll ever get) opportunity to put his case across to millions of viewers. If he cocks it up tonight, that's it. He'll be ridiculed in front of the entire nation, and the BNP will be written off forever. So expect a very carefully worded response from this man. He's an ex-Oxford graduate and probably used to plenty of debates at the Oxford Union, where they really put you through your paces, so he'll be ready. Immigration is a sensitive issue these days, and Griffin will exploit it to the max. If things go well for him, he'll reignite the immigration debate with gusto, and make New Labour look very foolish indeed.

I truly hope that the audience keep their emotions in check, and allow the debate to flow. It'll be interesting to watch, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by All_I_Want

Originally Posted by PoisonDwarf

Originally Posted by Enigma266

Can anyone actually tell me what their policies are? All they seem to spout on about is what they feel is wrong with the country, not how they intend to put it right.

Bingo. Their policies are basically a rant about darkies coming over here and stealing all of our jobs. BNP - big on problems but small on solutions.

Nevertheless, they need to be heard. The only way to defeat ignorance is by exposing it to the light and slaying it with the trusty sword of truth. (er...sorry to paraphrase that slimebag politician who went to jail).

I would put a link up to where their policies are but that would then get this thread binned faster than normal.

In general I would say they are big on solutions though.

Not final ones I hope? :D