Last night 8 million viewers tuned in to the BBC, Television Centre was put on lock-down and Twitter was all of a flutter over the appearance of Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party on Question Time.
While we all had fun throwing soft toys and making panto jeers at the telly, we have to ask: is it really appropriate for a Public Service Broadcaster to provide a platform for a party which, until recently, contravened the Race Relations Act?
The BBC is committed to objective reporting in the public’s interest – but can it take the ‘free speech’ argument too far? Was it wrong to invite Griffin to join the panel on the grounds that his political arguments contravene BBC guidelines?
The debate around this issue got so heated in the Kaizo offices that we declared a ‘blog-off’. Emma Potter and Sarah Mayer were glued to their TVs and laptops last night preparing their arguments…and here they are for your reading pleasure:
No – A contravention and controversial
What do you think?
