October 19, 2009

BNP launches online assault on ethnic-minority Question Time panellists

The British National Party has launched an online assault on the two ethnic-minority members of the BBC Question Time panel who will take on Nick Griffin, the party’s leader, this week

A posting on the BNP’s website derided Bonnie Greer, the writer and broadcaster, as a “black history fabricator”, and said that Baroness Warsi, the Conservative spokeswoman for community cohesion, who is of Pakistani origin, was a “product of Tory affirmative action”. The remarks came as the BBC struck back at ministers such as Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary, and Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, who have criticised the corporation for inviting Mr Griffin on to Question Time.

Ric Bailey, the broadcaster’s chief political adviser, said that the BBC was legally bound to include the BNP and that if Mr Johnson wanted to change that he should outlaw the party. Mr Bailey said: “If the politicians feel strongly that the BNP should not be on programmes like Question Time because of their policies, they have the ability to take things through Parliament and change the law.”

Mr Hain has written to the BBC warning that it could face legal action unless it suspended plans to have Mr Griffin on Question Time. Mr Hain argued that the BNP was “an unlawful body” because its whites-only membership rules breached discrimination legislation.

Thousands of protesters from groups such as Unite Against Fascism are expected to gather outside BBC Television Centre, in West London, when Question Time is filmed on Thursday.

Mr Bailey said that the BBC had a legal obligation to cover the BNP as it had won two seats in the European Parliament.If the party continued to enjoy similar levels of public support it is likely to be invited back on to the programme in the future.

A posting on the BNP website about Ms Greer focused on Radio 4’s In Search of the Black Madonna, which she presented in 2000. The party claimed that the show, which examined how European Catholics had worshipped in front of black icons, represented a “fabrication” of history. In an interview on Sky News Mr Griffin said of Ms Greer: “I think she’s a bit wacky when she sets out to say that Europeans, throughout the Middle Ages, worshipped black women,” he said. “So she’s got quirky aspects but the British like an eccentric so I’m sure we’ll get on all right.”

Times Online

13 comments:

Beeb Sux! said...

Most surely the BBC ought to warn Nick Gri££in that Question Time will be cancelled if the BNP don't immediately remove this racist, insulting and unprofessional material about his fellow guests.

The problem is, the BBC have no balls!!!

Sal (Purfleet) said...

Has anybody noticed that Thurrock BNP are turning into a band?

http://davestrickson.blogspot.com/2009/10/thurrock-bnp-on-road.html

eric the fish said...

Darby also makes a snide 'joke' about Blunkett's blindness on his blog of hate.

Anonymous said...

Failing that this should all be used to shame him on the night. Whether or not you like her politics Baroness Warsi a is pleasant and decent human being (have met her myself) and I dare say Bonnie Greer is too. This will instantly place Griffin on the back foot and he'll either have to try to justify their remarks or place some distance between himself and their vile comments. Either gives him a problem.

Sal (Purfleet) said...

Has anybody also noticed that Thurrock BNP are very much aware of the influence popular music can have on people when mixed politically?

I wonder if Pearl Jam & The Cranberries really support their Musicians Against Communism movement.?

Some people might think that they do.

Anonymous said...

"Has anybody noticed that Thurrock BNP are turning into a band?"

Pity he's shit though. Hes not even good enough to be considered for Great Shite Ripoff, and they take anyone. Thats really saying something!

DisgustedOfTunbridgeWells said...

"Mr Bailey said that the BBC had a legal obligation to cover the BNP as it had won two seats in the European Parliament."

The fact it was the far right bbc who helped them 'win' those seats in the first place, I suspect is not lost on Mr Bailey.

Landale said...

seems that the BNP site is a bit flakey at the moment, pings OK, but thats all.

Wait for the next DDOS claims and begging letter!

When will they ever learn.....

workingman said...

I hope someone asks him why he chose to go talk to the APP in Oz, surley a true supporter of rights for indigenious peoples would have gone to help the aboriginals?!

Anonymous said...

The Beeb are running scared..or are they?



We'd abolish BBC Trust, says Tory culture secretary Jeremy Hunt

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/19/wed-abolish-bbc-trust-hunt

Sal (Purfleet) said...

"Pity he's shit though. Hes not even good enough to be considered for Great Shite Ripoff, and they take anyone. Thats really saying something!"

It might be because he's in a position to rip people off himself with his own shit label Guilty Records.

Anonymous said...

Time to stop paying the BBC licence fee, methinks!
Plenty of others doing the same now, a google search should soon provide all necessary details on how to best go about this.
Just like Gri££in, when the BBC start to lose their much-loved revenue, they will want to know why, and will happily drop Gri££in like a sack of hot shit if it starts to affect the money available for their perks and bonuses.

Anonymous said...

"Has anybody noticed that Thurrock BNP are turning into a band?"

Me thinks Sal (purfleet) is actually Dave Strickson.

Thats how sad Dave Strickson is. He has so little respect from his own party he has to try and advertise his music on a 'lefty blog' haha sado! A laughing stock on both sides!