This debate is now closed.
What's your reaction to BBC Question Time programme?
The leader of the British National Party has appeared as a panellist on Question Time on BBC1. What's your reaction to the programme?
Nick Griffin insisted he was "not a Nazi" during his first appearance on the show.
The political discussion programme was recorded as anti-fascist campaigners protested outside the BBC's Television Centre.
Mr Griffin was booed at the start of the recording and accused of trying to "poison politics" as he was attacked by fellow panellists and the audience.
Should Nick Griffin have been invited on the programme? How did the panel perform? Send us your reaction.
This debate has been closed and a new debate has been opened. Please send your comments there.
Watch programme on BBC iplayer
Published:
Thursday, 22 October, 2009, 05:16 GMT
06:16 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:05 GMT
09:05 UK
Last night's Question Time reminded me of the film 'ZULU'. Completely outnumbered and overwhelmed, but Nick Griffin stood his ground, battled through and came out triumphant.
Logicman, Stevenage
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
Thank you BBC for allowing democracy to shine, as an older person who remembers Peter Hain in his youth (who is BNP's greatest critic), may I say I prefer the BNP's form of democracy. It certainly appears to me that Hain has willingly embraced everything he previously hated, at least Griffin is honest! Democracy means that we all have a right to state our point of view, not be shoehorned into someone elses! In this the BBC have demonstrated their willingness to participate in the process.
David, Ashington
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
I dont agree with any racism of any kind. However i agree that this country needs to shut up shop now. Nick Griffin is totally correct about islam and also gave the plus side to islam. Why dont people mention this. I think it is apalling that Nick Griffin was heckled in the way he was. This country is the laughing stock of europe. Australia wouldnt tolerate the influx that we have, but are Australia racist? No. We need ID cards NOW. This way if you havent got one you cant have NHS treatment.
Norman West, Gateshead
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
After watching QT, I was amazed at how the audience and the panel literally ganged up on the BNP rep, this seems to be a massive setup just to make him look small, some of the things he said were in fact fair, my family and I cannot get any council accomodation due to the fact that immigrants come first, is this fair...NO. maybe people are scared of the fact that times are changing, things could not get any worse than they are now.
Baffled, gloucester
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
i agree that the bnp should have there view and the only reason why some people have voted for the bnp because all the other partys will not face up to what the public want and thats a debate on the real issue's like immigration and the eu. people in this country have been waiting for it for so many years and they are not heard that they vote the bnp. there was an unfair advantage for nick griffin and he was not allowed to air his views on some of the things we would of like to have heard.
tara banks, london
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
The worrying thing is that the BBC had to sink to the depths it did last night by what was a setup 'gang betting' by what did not appear to be impartial or public representing audience. His comment about the BBC being an Ultra Leftist instittuion rang true. No debate, in denial politcal class = danger. I worry about democracy in the UK and its NOT the BNP I fear....
[AuntieLeft], Merseyside, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
Griffin claimed the quotes in the Mail were untrue
When challenged to say which ones - he said too many to mention
He tried to deny quotes which were on video
He refused to deny quotes read out to him by Dimbleby
If, Mr Griffin, as you claim, the Mail has libelled you then sue them as is your right or are you afraid of losing?
I know I would sue if libelled to the extent you claimed
john davis, Motherwell, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
Of all the panelists only Bonnie Greer came across with the intelligence and wit which would have exposed the BNP for what they truely are. The rest stooped to bullying and personal attacks on Nick Griffin, exposing in the process what most of us believe. That all politians are the same, whatever party they belong to. Sadly the BNP now not only have the protest vote, The folly of the other panelists may have given them the sympathy vote, as no one likes to watch someone being bullied in public.
John Lumbard, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
i'm sure Griffins views on immigration are shared by the majority of UK residents, acknowledging that, the Baroness issued the blueprint to all major parties to win the next election, she realised that the UK residents are concerned and suggested positive action - hers was the most positive speech of the evening. it was a shame that the panel and the carefully selected audience set out not to give Griffin a chance and that the muslim was not asked to respond to Griffins response about Islam.
Mike, Keighley
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
This is the 1st time I have written a comment to BBC. I watched the programme last night and felt It was another set up. Normally there would be an equal amount of people in the audience who would support there individual parties so that there would be a fair discussion. Instead this was a total set up by the BBC and other parties to bring down the BNP. I will tell you now. I am not a racist. But I do think that the BBC are becoming more and more racist. News should be fair and not one sided
Adrian, Gloucester
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
".......You see, my great fear is now that if we get them coming in at that rate people will turn round and we shall not have good race relations with those who are here....... So, either you go on taking in 40 or 50,000 a year, which is far too many, or you say we must hold out the prospect of a clear end to immigration and that is the view we have taken and I am certain that is the right view to keep good race relations and to keep fundamental British characteristics" Margaret Thatcher 1978
lee, south wales
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
What a waste!! This programme would've been a great opportunity for Nick Griffin to express his utterly flawed views so that they could have been defeated through sensible argument and exposed for what they are.
Instead, what we saw was Griffin hardly being allowed to speak before someone else tried to get in on another dose of easy mudslinging. The "programme" turned into a boo the villain pantomime, with Dimbleby failing to keep any control.
[Sophoclisis], Newcastle
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
Nick Griffin raised an interesting point about the indiginous populations of Australia and America and why nobody raises an eyebrow at that, but are appalled by the thought of defining an indiginous British population.
His comments are worth exploring: look at the status of the "indigious" population of Australia and America now. Marginalised by mass immigration.
[Please-try-again]
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
Regardless of their political stance any party which has received as many votes as the BNP should be included in political debate. Many voters who elected representation from the BNP did so with little knowledge of their policies and it is only through easily watchable t.v programmes that many might begin to. A limited knowledge and understanding of policies is also true for many who voted Labour and Conservative but their coverage is at least far greater in bbc broadcasting.
Sinead, glasgow
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Added:
Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08:04 GMT
09:04 UK
I was concerned when I heard that the Beeb were going to air this guy's idiocy. I need not have been. Although the programme was excessively dominated by the BNP's wierd policies and racist approach, and the questions asked were aimed at exposing this, when the programme eventually ranged into contemporary matters (the Stephen Gateley question) Nick Griffin scored a potent own goal with his "creepy" comments. Anyone who wants to know that Griffinworld would be like need only listen to this.
Rabbi Zvi Solomons, Reading
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