BBC Trust to review decision to invite Nick Griffin on to Question Time

The Times reports on the latest developments concerning the BNP leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on BBC1’s Question Time programme due for tomorrow.

The Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, having earlier written to Mark Thompson, BBC Director General, has now also written to the Chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons (pictured), urging that “The BBC must not hide behind the process and procedure to usher the BNP across this threshold.”

In his letter to Mark Thompson, Mr Hain pointed out that without revisions to the BNP’s membership criteria being adopted by the party ahead of the Question Time programme, the party stood in breach of laws on discrimination and was thus an ‘unlawful body’. Hain urged the BBC not treat the BNP ‘just like any other democratically elected party’.

Unite Against Fascism have pledged to bring along 12 busloads on anti-fascist campaigners from across the country to protest against Griffin’s appearance.

Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of UAF, said of its planned protest, “It will be militant — we’re going to be noisy, loud and determined. But it’s not our side that will be violent. I’d be more worried about the people who are there to support Griffin.”

You can watch the BBC Newsnight discussion on ‘Should the BNP be given airtime?’ with Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Ric Bailey, the BBC’s chief adviser on politics, here.