Statement on Nick Griffin on Question Time
The episode of Question Time which featured the leader of the BNP, Nick Griffin, has just aired.
Once again, Twitter came into full force. According to @tweetminster there were up to 53.5K tweets with 12.49 tweets per second at close of #bbcqt.
Analysis of the debate will no doubt dominate the headlines and the blogosphere tomorrow and for several days to come.
However, I believe this is a maiden victory for the Coalition Against No Platform but the work is far from done. Those STILL in favour of No Platform rightly ask “What about next time? What about the time after that?” because now the boycott is broken, we can avoid the mistake France made with the Front National, and hopefully start to deal with the BNP in a practical and not hysterical way.
Despite this, UAF protesters continued their typical activities, with a fleet of police officers required to prevent a riot. A caption on BBC News suggested that 3 police officers had been injured as protesters had attempted to storm the BBC. 6 people were arrested. I have said time and time again that I believe this method to be wholly counter-productive.
Question Time showed that Griffin’s views are as safe as sandcastles, and his backtracking and squirming was evident.
I am proud to have been able to contribute to the debate. I can only hope we can stop arguing with each other when we should be arguing with the BNP.
Hadleigh ROBERTS
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Was this a Christmas present for Nick Griffin? Only if Santa is having an off day. The conclusion at Herbert Road was that a) Nick Griffin is a liar, and b) Nick Griffin is a BAD liar.
As far as No Platform goes, part of me thinks that NG has the right to express his views, in the sense that it’s exercising his freedom of speech. However, the other part of me wanted to exercise my right to turn the TV off every time he spoke. If you don’t like something, you don’t have to watch it.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
You’re being absorbed into Frenchdom, Hadleigh; you’re capitalising your last name.
My favourite ever response to the BNP was Mitch Benn on the Now Show, pointing out that they’re all so fat. Teeheesnicker.
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Hadleigh Roberts Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I have to, or else they get confused and call me Monsieur Adlée
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October 23rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Well said Hadleigh. QT proved that without the veneer of propaganda and well spun press releases posing as moderate nationalism, Griffin’s got nowhere to hide.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
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