To be totally disgusted to see that ITV has just shown a party election broadcast by the BNP

[ThinWhiteDuchess]

(Sure it's probably on BBC too) I mean, I am all for freedom of speech etc., but I am totally shocked to have seen this just now. Why the heck are the BNP allowed to broadcast on national TV???

BNP are a loathsome, hate filled bunch of cretins who have no place in 21st century Britain.

Yes, they are loathsome and horrible. But the thing about free speech is you can't decide that some people have it and some don't.

they are appalling, but hopefully they will have revealed themselves as such through their broadcast

Freedom of speech and all that I guess.

Saddens me that people vote for them, but banning them is just as bad in terms of freedom.

I would have just turned over I think, or used it as (yet another) chance to discuss the horrors of racism with the boys

on bbc now

it's called the democratic process

you can't censor it because it's anti-democratic

Peachy - good idea about discussing this with the kids. Cannot abide the BNP but we do have freedom of speech.

BNP really are pond scum (no offence ponds) but if we prepare are DCs then they will run out of voters.

I feel similar disgust watching Sinn Fein ppbs (political wing of the IRA) but they have won seats. That's an election.

What are they saying the bnp? ARe they being predictable and mentioning bloody foreigners or are they skirting around the bloody foreigners?

They have the right to campaign under our democracy; you have right to exercise your fingers on the remote control.

It isn't nice, but most sane and rational people will switch off.

registered parties (of which BNP is one) qualify for a broadcast on the basis of contesting one sixth or more of the seats up for election within each UK country.

So the BNP must qualify by standing for more than 1/6th of the seats in England, Scotland and Wales to be offered broadcasts on ITV, in the appropriate regions

Because they have won a certain amount of elections, public broadcasters are legally obliged to allow them a specific amount of time for party political broadcasts (I think). The intention behind this was to allow representation for all parties and to ensure that not just the Government had access to the media. Laudable aims, just a shame that sufficient people are biggoted enough to have allowed this to happen.

we had a right hoo-haa about this back in the days when i was a student coz the BNP wanted to speak on campus, and although i am totally repulsed to the core by them i was really made to think by the Jewish society who campaigned for the BNP to still be allowed to speak, in order to uphold freedom of speech (when their speaker on campus has been openly anti-jewish). Think they just show what idiots they are when they do speak though..

I know, I know, I know...they have an absolute right to broadcast under our democratic process. Goosey I agree it is the bigots who have voted for them in the past who have allowed this to happen.

I remember the first BNP broadcast (can't remember when it was, but I remember I was at my parents' house) It started with a cosy domestic scene with a child reading a picture book. Ironically the book was Mog the Forgetful cat - by Judith Kerr, whose family were refugees from the Nazi regime in the 30's. I wonder what she thought about her book being used...
I didn't see any more of the broadcast as my Dad turned off in disgust.

I think that the BNP should be allowed their party political broadcast. Its a better way them to try and put their view across than violence.

I disagree with their views but they have the right to free speech. I also have the right to turn off the TV and not vote for them.

OMG, the BNP used Mog?

I loathed them anyway but that's sacriledge.

I think allowing them to speak on campus with questions afterwards is different from a polished broadcast that gives no opportunity to challenge them or show their true colours.

Absolutely vile, but that is the joy of living in a liberal democracy.

i think they're disgusting people but to paraphrase someone much smarter than me, while i disagree with what they are saying i'll defend to the death their right to say it. i'm actually disappointed that we don't have free speech in ireland or the uk as i feel it gives these people another "moral" crusade which can suck some people in. i.e. they're not allowed slag off blacks/muslims in public but black comics can freely make fun of white people etc.
and i have enough faith in the general public that i think if you allow these people to say what they want it will simply be giving them enough rope to hang themselves with.i would rather everyone knew exactl what these bigots thought then watch them do verbal gymastics to avoid punishment and make themselves appear as the victims.

Representation of the People Act insn't it? She said trying to remember the law she learned eons ago. Means that each party has to have the same amount of air time, you can't be biased in favour of one or t'uther.