The BNP should be allowed on Question Time

(c) Ross McRoss

When the story about the BNP being invited onto the BBC for an episode of Question Time appeared, my instinctive reaction was ‘”Why?” They shouldn’t be given the opportunity to spout their racist bile. But after some thought, reading and the sobre reflection of Matthew Syed in The Times, I changed my mind.

What would banning them from appearing on the show really achieve? Relatively little. The party haven’t had a public platform to preach from, yet their success in recent elections demonstrates that this is of little benefit. Particularly as right wing extremism rises due to the perceived threat from immigrants and bizzarely unegalitarian equality legislation, it is important to find a way to counter the problems this creates.

Let them debate with the main parties in public, and watch as they talk themselves into their political grave. Their logic is conflicting, as Syed aptly points out. According to their website: “[We don't] think that it is a good thing for even a single person of European stock to have so much as one child with a Japanese or Chinese. We do not, because such a union mixes what are not meant to be mixed, destroys two ancient family lines, and undermines two equally great but entirely separate cultures.”

The website then goes on to extol the virtues and lessons of Charles Darwin himself. In doing so, they both promote Darwinism whilst attacking the devices through which natural selection occurs. How very ironic. This would be intellectual comedy gold on a late night TV debate with one of the main parties. No one will take them seriously after witnessing a performance or two by this racist, bigoted party.

Which is why it is dismaying that a respectable politician such as Alan Johnson refuses to share a platform with the party in debate. It is against the principles of freedom for one. Regardless of how ridiculous their opinions may be, you cannot deny them the right to express them. More to the point, it is through the free expression of their racism that it can be on view for all to see.

And the most powerful argument of all is that of trust in the electorate. The idea that they shouldn’t be allowed to appear on the show would seem to advocate the notion that they can influence the public and win voters. But it is essential that politicans and publicly funded institutions such as the BBC have trust in the electorate and give them the opportunity to make decisions for themselves, rather than deciding what is and what is not correct.

I can’t wait to see Nick Griffin squirm on Question Time. We should find the best debators from across the party spectrum. I’d like to see William Hague, Vince Cable and Peter Mandelson take him on - that would be a great debate. And for once we can say well done to the BBC for a brilliant idea.