SUBJECT to debate, Voltaire is believed to have once said: “I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

This is exactly how I feel about BNP leader Nick Griffin’s attempt to hold a press conference at Westminster last Tuesday.

He was democratically elected, yet a bunch of left-wing anti-fascists gave him more publicity than he could hope for.

This mob of the great unwashed allowed no debate into the rights or wrongs of his policies. No one could establish what he stands for.

The police stood idly by while a melee occurred within yards of the Palace of Westminster. Eggs were thrown (probably by vegetarians and vegans).

One wonders what would have happened if Mr Griffin had thrown the eggs – or would we just have adopted the stance Tony Blair did when former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott threw a punch, dismissing the action as “John is John”.

Free speech is part of our common law, irrespective of its contents. Provided it is within the law, it should be heard. Just because the left disagree with it, it has no right to stop it with tactics that are no better than the extreme right.

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me, Durham.