BOARD DENOUNCES BNP ON QUESTION TIME

Commenting on BNP Leader Nick Griffin’s ‘performance’ last night on the BBC’s ‘Question Time,’ Jon Benjamin, Chief Executive, Board of Deputies said, “despite all of the smoke and mirrors, the obfuscation and the denials, what really stuck in Nick Griffin's throat was the ability to recant his views on the Holocaust. Some hatreds obviously run too deep to even pretend to deny them.”

“We all hold dear the right to free speech, but that does not mean that every hateful pronouncement, even if it does not breach the law, has to be given exposure. Of course the BNP's warped agenda has to be challenged, but providing a platform on national television has raised their profile every bit as much as it has highlighted their prejudices."

The Board of Deputies consistently challenged the appearance of the BNP spokesmen on the BBC recently, of which Nick Griffin’s participation on Question Time was just one example. Combating fascist far-right and BNP activity in the UK and beyond, in particular, in the run up to the European Elections last June, remains at the top of the Board’s agenda.