Nick Griffin's on Question Time- Sean's Response

Sitting down to perhaps the most anticipated QT ever, I realised one thing. Despite there being a tumultuous amount of lies in politics nowadays, my confidence in society was restored. At times I have doubted the nature of humanity, as in the past intolerance has always been greeted by ignorance. It was invigorating to see people come together and challenge that what is engrossing the public. Not four hours prior to the question time episode I spoke to a neighbour, a pleasant, tolerant woman who embraces people with an appropriate decorum. After helping her fix her television, we witnessed the protests at BBC television centre, at this point my neighbour said ‘Oh that’s that Griffin fella, he’s allright isn’t he, clever man he talks sense, just wants to stop too much immigration’. And this is exactly why these people need to be challenged on a significant platform. If this does not happen, then away from the public service broadcasters, the fascists will grow. Under the radar it has been happening, some say it’s frustration with the main parties, some consider mild racism and some just think that they’re the only ‘party’ saying anything bold. It’s not just racists who are voting for the National Front anymore, it’s people who are unaware of true policies being manipulated by tidier, more conservative lies.

As somewhat of a left-winger I was licking my lips at the thought of Jack Straw pummelling this thug. The protests that preceded the recording of the programme however, I must disagree with. Protesting and attacking BBC television centre is hardly a way to defeat this problem. If people are willing to elect him to the European parliament, stop them by doing the right thing and vote in the European elections. I mean, come on, can any of you actually say you can name your MEP? Thought not. It seems as if people are only willing to take action if the BNP are given a spot on television. No, the BNP is doing as it should, taking views from all aspects of society. And whether you like it or not, some people share those horrible views with Adolf Griffin. So the answer isn’t to silence the intolerant, instead to educate those who have been mislead. This is what yesterday’s question time was aiming to do, and I think to a certain extent it achieved this. Some may claim that it became an all out attack on Nick Griffin, but isn’t that what you’re going to be faced with, if you have such extreme views? Nick Griffin’s party is getting votes for being bold, so why can’t people show the same anger and boldness when debating with this man? No it wasn’t a circus, as Nick Griffin was asked to explain why he believed the things he has said, and he simply couldn’t do it. He had enough talking time, yet he neglected to retort back to Jack Straw and Chris Huhne’s quotes and questions.

Some said that it was an opportunity for the main parties to get back some dignity by attacking an easy target? Easy target who is an elected MEP? No this man holds a significant political position, and therefore is encouraged to defend his policies. Griffin was evasive with every question asked, and blatently lied out of his teeth at every opportunity. Kudos to Jack Straw for challenging this vile creature, but as a man of New Labour he could never come out as the hero as it only took the mention of the Iraq war to totally disqualify anything he had to say as irrelevant. The Tory representative Baroness Warsi appeared to be the most headstrong of the politicians, and was flawless with her argument, taking the moderate right viewpoint of dealing with immigration. That was until the late Stephen Gately was mentioned, and then she showed her true colours, as the ever so slightly homophobic Tory. Bonnie Greer sought to point blatant fact out but was simply ignored by Nick Griffin, who only seemed to address the white males on the panel. As for the Chris Huhne, who appeared quite flawless in his argument, well he represents the Liberal Democrats, who are the most ridiculous party in the world. Not because of their policies, but simply because they always fail to take advantage of the big two and make themselves heard.

So in the words of Jack Straw I say this, ‘the BNP are the only party that have to defend their policies as being racist,’ and therefore if they want to be recognised as a legitimate party they must face challenges like this at every corner. I’m pleased the BBC chose to air the show and I hope it is reflected in public views, as people realise what the BNP are really like.