Guadian comment 24 Oct 09, 3:03am

Ministers warn of poll boost for BNP after Question Time

My comment 24 Oct 09, 3:03am

Well I think the boost was to be expected, considering the farce we saw.

Why was it all about the BNP? Question time is supposed to reflect a number of topics, not just what one person represents! Why didn't we hear what Griffin had to say about things other than race and immigration? Would he have had anything to say about the postal strike, or something more benign, yet expected of a "real" politician?

And why did David Dimbleby ask Griffin to explain his statement about his father being in the RAF, and Straw's dad being imprisoned as a conscientious objector?

It may not have had any relevance to Mr. Dimbleby, but frankly it did strike something of a chord with me - and I think a lot of people.

Griffin is a toad. If he's a holocaust denier, then he's as much of a toad as the Iranian "leader", and I don't think he should be given the time of day.

But the thing is, we live in a democratic society, and he's been getting votes because of his views, and frankly I don't think all of them are wrong - just 99% of them.

I'm one of those people who is bothered by unfettered immigration into a tiny, already overpopulated island. Britain isn't America. It isn't Australia. It's just a tiny little island a fifth of the size of Texas, that has four million more people than it had just a very short time ago.

Nick Griffin is right on the mark certainly about one thing, and that's immigration, and it's something the main parties simply cannot ignore.

It's abhorrent that this odious toad discriminates against people on the grounds of the colour of their skin. It's abhorrent that he should desire some ridiculous "repatriation" of "non whites", when they were born in Britain. This is disgusting, vile talk.

But many people see the advancement of Islam, and the loss of British cultural identity - way beyond the changes occurring in the 1930s - and these are the people who are attracted to him and his party.

The main parties have neglected the "indigenous" population - meaning those who have roots in Britain for generations. There's no shame in saying that. Many people don't think that immigrants deserve the same rights as those who have been in the country for generations, any more than new members of a club should.

Frankly, I wouldn't expect to feel anything less than a second class citizen in an adopted country. And I think it galls many people that newcomers go "to the front of the queue".

People may disagree with these views. But I, and they, are entitled to them. And no amount of shouting down and shaming will change that. If what Nick Griffin has to say appeals to voters, it's really our duty to say something better, and not simply to shout him down.