Evidence of electoralsupport at a national level.
The British National Party has“significant support” in Britain at a “national level” and thereforethe BBC has no choice but to give party leader Nick Griffin equal timeon national television, that broadcaster has announced.
Responding to the combined hysteria ofthe three-headed-but-one-policy Lib/Lab/Con party over the announcementthat Mr Griffin is to appear on Question Time, the BBC saidthat its guidelines required it to treat all parties impartially andthat the invitation was consistent with similar approaches to Green andUKIP MEPs.
According to media reports, the BBC hasalready started preparations for a programme to be taped this autumn inLondon involving Mr Griffin and representatives from the otherthree-peas-in-a-pod party.
Of course, the usual gang of farleftist extremists have, in their usual anti-democratic rage, condemnedthe move and are trying to stop the programme from going ahead byencouraging the other party to boycott it. The BBC has, however,effectively put an end to these efforts as well by saying that anyboycott by the other party would not stop Mr Griffin appearing, addingthat “parties are not allowed to dictate who is included.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The BBC isobliged to treat all political parties registered with the ElectoralCommission and operating within the law with due impartiality.
“By winning representation in theEuropean parliament, the BNP has demonstrated evidence of electoralsupport at a national level. This will be reflected in the amount ofcoverage it receives on BBC programmes such as Question Time.”
Referring to the European elections ofJune this year, Ric Bailey, the BBC’s chief adviser on politics, saidthat the party “got across a threshold that has given them nationalrepresentation and that fact will be reflected in the level of coveragethey will be given. This is not a policy about the BNP. It’s a policyabout impartiality.”
The decision was approved by MarkByford, the deputy director-general. David Dimbleby, the show’s host,has also backed the invitation.