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  BBC will bear 'moral responsibility' if attacks follow Question Time |
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 | Reported by guardian.co.uk
on Thursday, 22 October 2009
(on October 22, 2009) |
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BBC accountable if racist attacks follow BNP leader's Question Time appearance, says former London mayor Ken LivingstoneThe BBC will bear "moral responsibility" if anyone is hurt in racist attacks following the British National Party leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time tonight, former London mayor Ken Livingstone said today.Tonight's appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin on the BBC1 flagship political discussion programme could echo Enoch Powell's rivers of blood speech, which saw a rise in hate attacks, added Livingstone, the chair of Unite Against Facism, which is today holding a demonstration outside Television Centre where Question Time is being filmed.Today anti-fascist protesters leafleted BBC staff as they arrived for work at Television Centre in White City, west London.
Protestors handed out leaflets, including one that said: "No Plugs for Nazi Nick."Countering BBC director general Mark Thompson's argument in the Guardian today that in inviting Griffin onto Question Time the BNP was being treated like any other political party that "demonstrated a level of support", he said a different standard should be applied because it legitimises violence."If anyone is hurt tonight then the BBC bears moral responsibility for that," Livingstone said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme."It seems to me almost that the BBC has lost the moral compass - over the last year we have had the bizarre decision that the BBC wouldn't broadcast the concert for climate change because they thought it was too partisan, it wouldn't have an appeal for funds for the victims in Gaza, but it is quite prepared to have Nick Griffin on prime-time TV."Livingstone said the BNP should only have been allowed on Question Time if a judge had ordered it, adding that Griffin's appearance could incite violence."The young muslim who walks home past a group of racist thugs who have been inflamed by what they hear, he gets a kicking," he added.
"That is why I think you apply a different standard to the BNP than those parties that don't legitimise violence."However, the deputy director general of the BBC, Mark Byford, defended the decision to allow the BNP on the programme, saying the far right party "should have the right to be heard and challenged"."The BBC's job is to secure due impartiality and to secure due impartiality on what is a premier political discussion programme it is right in our belief that the BNP should have an appearance," he said on Today."When you look at other minority parties that are allowed to go on the Question Time panel, so should the BNP.
It is not for the BBC to censor and say they can't be on."Byford did not directly debate the matter with Livingstone on Today, with host Sarah Montague explaining: "There was an agreement with the BBC press office yesterday that it would be a one-on-one interview rather than a discussion."He rejected Livingstone's assertion that the BBC was trying to fuel ratings, saying that the decision was "nothing to do with audience figures".Controversy over the Question Time appearance continued today, with international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders supporting the BBC and the National Union of Journalists opposing it."Reporters Without Borders is in full support with the BBC's decision to interview Nick Griffin, MEP from the controversial British National Party," the organisation said."Under the human rights of free speech and press, it is none other than an obligation for an international and comprehensive media outlet, like the BBC, to exercise its professional responsibility to interview all MPs and MEPs regardless of personal viewpoint."It is the same act of free press that allows the BBC, and many other UK media outlets, to function uncensored, providing all news freely; something very special and unique to the United Kingdom."But the NUJ was highly critical of the BBC, saying the programme did not allow the "BNP's dishonest propaganda to be properly challenged".Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, said: "We believe the BNP should be subject to proper journalistic scrutiny which would challenge their anti-social policies and their dishonest propaganda which seeks to spread disharmony and fear.
We believe this requires rigorous questioning backed up by detailed research."There is no opportunity for this sort of forensic examination in the knock-about soapbox environment of Question Time.
We believe the BBC is wrong to invite the BNP to appear on Question Time and will support any member who refuses to work on this week's programme in line with the union's code of conduct and conscience clause."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857.
For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
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