Should the BNP be heard?

The BBC recently announced that they would invite the BNP to send a panel member to their flagship Question Time programme. This raises some interesting questions.

As a researcher I have spoken to colleagues about whether or not we should access BNP material, both online or offline. I have indeed accessed the BNP's website a few times, most recently as part of CENMEP's research on the 2009 European Parliament elections. Whilst personally I find it distasteful to do so, I recognise that as an objective researcher my analysis would be incomplete if I did not. This is particularly the case given that the BNP, and other far right organisations throughout Europe, 'punch above their weight' in using the Internet, probably because they do not have easy access to the mainstream media.

Voltaire is associated with (though may or may not have said) the statement "I disagree with you, but I defend your right to say it." I am not totally convinced that most liberals (and I use this term loosely) would agree with the sentiments of this term in this case. However, I do think the BBC are right, not just for media representation purposes, but also because the BNP could well be their own worst enemy if they are forced into saying what they really believe. Of course the danger is that they will come across as 'reasonable' people and gain more support.

I find an update to this story very interesting in that Labour will not force its senior politicians to share a television studio with Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP and MEP.