Downing Street Says » British National Party on Question Time

» Monday, October 19, 2009

British National Party on Question Time

Asked if the Prime Minister had any sympathy with Pete Hain s view that it was not the right time to allow the British National Party (BNP) onto Question Time, the PMS said that individuals, whether political or not, had strong views about the BNP. Any editorial decisions about the cast list of Question Time were matters for the BBC. Peter Hain had expressed his views as someone with a long and distinguished history of ant-racism and anti-apartheid campaigning.

Asked if there was a united view from Cabinet about the BNP s appearance on Question Time, the PMS said that it was important for people to be able to express their views on this subject but the decision about who appeared on Question Time was not for the Government.

Asked if the Prime Minister had a view as to whether or not the BNP should be allowed on Question Time, the PMS said that he was not afraid to debate anybody and to expose what the BNP was about.

Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with Jack Straw s decision to go on Question Time, the PMS said that the Prime Minister had no problem with Jack Straw appearing on Question Time.

Asked if the Prime Minister believed that the only way to deal with the BNP was to give them a platform, the PMS said that he wouldn t express it like that; the Prime Minister was not afraid of debating with anybody.

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