BNP/Question Time

Maybe it’s a protest at the BBC for throwing party leader Nick Griffin into a snake pit.

All in all, I think he did a good job considering he was put in front of a hand-picked, extreme left-wing audience, panel and presenter. Almost one million people voted for the BNP at the Euro elections and from looking at The Daily Telegraph’s YouGov poll last Friday this is set to increase by the next election.

Gordon Brown’s government should be scared – the economic crisis, the banking bailouts, helping George Bush finish off what his father couldn’t in Iraq, weekly losses in Afghanistan, etc.

I want the BNP to get as many new votes as possible, not because I want it to gain power, but so we can finally shock the “big three” into listening to us, the people.

The BNP couldn’t run a booze-up in a brewery, we all know that; but unless the government or new government does something I’ll be waiting for Nick Griffin at the brewery.

Finally, Question Time was a ratings winner for the BBC.

James Morgan, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.

RE the BNP leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on BBC’s Question Time.

I agree with your Comment column (Echo, Oct 24) that the BBC was right in abiding by the principles of democracy and freedom of speech – two things that represent what is good about Britain.

I doubt very much whether the BNP, if it is to be a real force let alone a party that can truly influence government, would uphold these principles.

The BNP is a predator preying on the fears of the disillusioned.

It sees all that is different as a threat – religion, culture and ethnic origin. That is the basis of what the party stands for and a reason for it to perpetrate hatred and violence.

This is not the British way, surely? Yes, we do have to consider carefully a balance where immigration needs to be understood. There are many instances where immigration is justified.

The danger with the BNP is that it portrays the issue with such venom, which is divisive and racially destructive.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.

IT was only right that a representative of the BNP should have been allowed on BBC’s Question Time, but it was a pity that all points made on the programme centred round party leader Nick Griffin.

If normal debating points had been raised people would have seen that the BNP has very little to offer that is different from the mainstream parties.

Only the racism of the BNP separates it from mainstream parties; not that we can be complacent about racism – it has killed a lot of people, like communism.

I was annoyed by constant references to Winston Churchill from both sides of the argument during the programme. I do not wish to denigrate one of history’s greatest Englishmen, but it must be admitted that Churchill, like many of his contemporaries, was not a passionate anti-racist.

Peter J Brown, Middlesbrough.

EVEN though I do not agree with most of the BNP’s views, the reaction to leader Nick Griffin’s statement – after his appearance on BBC’s Question Time – that London is not “British” is totally wrong, as we witnessed on a recent trip.

We did not meet one English person from the airport to the hotel and in various pubs and restaurants most only spoke English of a fashion. I do not agree totally with Mr Griffin’s views, but I do feel we need to do something to limit immigration before our culture is lost totally.

Dave Cooper, Stockton.

FORMER Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey spoke out at the weekend against BNP leader Nick Griffin’s Question Time references to Christian Britain.

However, I think we still live in a country which allows freedom of speech. Lord Carey should take on board that many wars have been and still today are caused by religious attitudes. In fact, throughout history, religion has been at the forefront of most wars.

The Church, in my opinion, should keep out of politics and stick to theological matters.

JM Gowland, Heighington, Co Durham