This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8277399.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Straw joins debate alongside BNP Straw joins debate alongside BNP
(9 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he has agreed to take part in a debate alongside the British National Party on the BBC's Question Time programme.Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he has agreed to take part in a debate alongside the British National Party on the BBC's Question Time programme.
Speaking on the Politics Show in the North West, Mr Straw said he would join a panel which will include the BNP leader and MEP Nick Griffin.Speaking on the Politics Show in the North West, Mr Straw said he would join a panel which will include the BNP leader and MEP Nick Griffin.
Mr Straw's decision goes against the usual Labour Party policy of not sharing a platform with the party.Mr Straw's decision goes against the usual Labour Party policy of not sharing a platform with the party.
He said the BNP were defeated when Labour "fought them hard".He said the BNP were defeated when Labour "fought them hard".
Mr Straw added he had accepted an invitation to to take part in the BBC programme on 22 October.
He said: "Wherever we have had BNP problems in my area and when we have fought them hard, we've pulled back and won the seats back.
"And that's what we have to do. We've got to make the argument for people and I am delighted to do so."
The BBC had already confirmed that it may invite Mr Griffin to appear on a future edition of the Question Time, saying it was bound by the rules to treat all political parties with "due impartiality".
No BNP representatives have yet appeared on the BBC's flagship panel show.
But the corporation 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.