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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| BNP 'may appear on Question Time' | BNP 'may appear on Question Time' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The BBC has confirmed it may invite British National Party leader Nick Griffin to appear on a future edition of the Question Time programme. | The BBC has confirmed it may invite British National Party leader Nick Griffin to appear on a future edition of the Question Time programme. |
| A spokesman said the BBC was bound by the rules to treat all political parties with "due impartiality". | A spokesman said the BBC was bound by the rules to treat all political parties with "due impartiality". |
| Talks are being held with other parties, some of whom have previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race. | Talks are being held with other parties, some of whom have previously refused to share a platform with the BNP because of its policies on race. |
| But the BBC says no parties can dictate who should not be included on the show. | But the BBC says no parties can dictate who should not be included on the show. |
| No BNP representatives have yet appeared on the BBC's flagship panel show. | No BNP representatives have yet appeared on the BBC's flagship panel show. |
| Our audiences - and the electorate - will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians BBC spokesman | Our audiences - and the electorate - will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians BBC spokesman |
| But the corporation has reviewed its position following the far-right party's success in last June's European elections, in which Mr Griffin was one of two BNP candidates to be elected as an MEP. | But the corporation has reviewed its position following the far-right party's success in last June's European elections, in which Mr Griffin was one of two BNP candidates to be elected as an MEP. |
| The BBC's chief political adviser, Ric Bailey, said the BNP had now "demonstrated evidence of electoral support at a national level." | The BBC's chief political adviser, Ric Bailey, said the BNP had now "demonstrated evidence of electoral support at a national level." |
| He said this would be "reflected" in the amount of coverage the party received on BBC programmes such as Question Time. | He said this would be "reflected" in the amount of coverage the party received on BBC programmes such as Question Time. |
| Mr Bailey added: "The BBC is obliged to treat all political parties registered with the Electoral Commission and operating within the law with due impartiality." | Mr Bailey added: "The BBC is obliged to treat all political parties registered with the Electoral Commission and operating within the law with due impartiality." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYLast time I looked, this was a democracy. The BNP won seats, they are a legal and official party.Maledici, London Send us your comments | |
| The corporation issued its statement after the Observer newspaper claimed the BBC had "forced" the Labour Party to consider its policy of not sharing the same platform with the BNP. | The corporation issued its statement after the Observer newspaper claimed the BBC had "forced" the Labour Party to consider its policy of not sharing the same platform with the BNP. |
| The paper said a number of senior Labour figures, including Home Secretary Alan Johnson, had been approached by Question Time and that the party was now reviewing its position. | The paper said a number of senior Labour figures, including Home Secretary Alan Johnson, had been approached by Question Time and that the party was now reviewing its position. |
| Mr Bailey said: "We are in talks with the parties on 'Question Time' which could feature Nick Griffin. | Mr Bailey said: "We are in talks with the parties on 'Question Time' which could feature Nick Griffin. |
| "It's worth noting that we often have discussions with people about who else is on the panel, but no parties can dictate who should or shouldn't be included." | "It's worth noting that we often have discussions with people about who else is on the panel, but no parties can dictate who should or shouldn't be included." |
| He added: "Due impartiality is achieved both by ensuring appropriate scrutiny for each party and by the appearances of a range of politicians across a series of programmes. | He added: "Due impartiality is achieved both by ensuring appropriate scrutiny for each party and by the appearances of a range of politicians across a series of programmes. |
| "Our audiences - and the electorate - will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians." | "Our audiences - and the electorate - will make up their own minds about the different policies offered by elected politicians." |