riot at the beeb the AA grumpy column

[pantoandy]

i,ve yet to read tonights the night by oscar but i,ll be glued to my tv to hear the words of uncle nick.

FURIOUS anti-fascist protesters broke through security barriers at BBC TV centre today.

More than 30 demonstrators barged into the building ahead of BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on BBC political show Question Time.

Thousands of campaigners from Unite Against Fascism had flocked to Television Centre, in London, to voice their opposition to the controversial debate.

The Metropolitan Police said there had been three arrests at the protest, two for violent disorder and the third was of a person wanted on warrant.

BBC officials had beefed up security ahead of tonight's show — with additional barriers placed outside the building to keep protesters away.

But irate protesters have now stormed through the additional security — demanding Mr Griffin should not be allowed to appear on air.

The BBC said the disruption was dealt with promptly and confirmed that Mr Griffin had been smuggled into the building.

A spokesman for the corporation said: "A small number of people managed to get into Television Centre.



"However, they were identified and are being escorted from the building quickly."

Earlier Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Fascism, had blasted: "I don't believe the BNP are going to be taken apart in the debate.

"What they are going to get is a massive hustings for their fascist and racist politics and the price for that will be an increase in the number of racist attacks."

Elane Heffernan, 47, a civil servant from East London, was outside Television Centre handing out leaflets claiming "No Plugs for Nazi Nick".

She said: "The BBC want to keep anti-fascists out of the audience. We all applied for tickets but didn't get one. A friend of mine was told she had a ticket but then they rang up and was told she didn't.

"The anti-racist majority are peaceful people. Whether it turns will be down to whether the police attack protesters."

Steven Ellis, 26, a librarian from Shepherd's Bush, West London, said: "I am down here because the BNP should not be treated like a normal party.

"They don't respect the rights of others and the BBC should not be inviting them on Question Time.

"A lot of BBC staff agree with us. A lot of people will arrive later to show their opposition to what the BBC are doing."



Welsh Secretary Peter Hain had slammed the broadcaster after the BBC Trust rejected appeals against Mr Griffin's appearance.

Mr Hain, who had made one of the complaints, said the BBC "has made one of the biggest mistakes in its proud history."

But Director-General Mark Thompson said only Parliament should make rules curbing free speech.

He said: "If there is a case for censorship, it should be debated and decided in parliament.

"Political censorship cannot be outsourced to the BBC or anyone else."

He said that Mr Griffin was not asked on to the show out of "some misguided desire to be controversial", but because it is the public's right "to hear the full range of political perspectives".

He added: "It is a straightforward matter of fact that ... the BNP has demonstrated a level of support which would normally lead to an occasional invitation to join the panel on Question Time.

"It is for that reason alone ... that the invitation has been extended."

Read more: Riot at the Beeb over BNP | The Sun |News

AAG

just stand up and tell the truth nick tell the people how it is how labour has broken britain and the tories are like headless chickens without a clue

the mainstream parites are terrified of the BNP,s popularity

the uaf are terrified of the BNP why because they,re labour / liberal voters who hide behind behind the UAF .

lets kick the illegal immigrants out stop anymore coming in and give back british

jobs to british workers.

lock up thieveing scum and hang those who commit murder.

reintroduce borstals and detention centres for young thugs bring back disipline to schools respect for our police and elderly.

we need police on the beat and a return to 60,s style old values

this can be achived by placing nick griffin in number 10.

[Oscar Namechange]

Hey Andy.... Notice the arrests for VIOLENT disorder are from the alleged tolerant and NOT the extremists :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl