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Straw joins debate alongside BNP Straw joins debate alongside BNP
(31 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 BNP leader Nick Griffin, the Tories and Lib Dems.
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. Labour does not share a platform with the party normally but said it would take on the its "disgusting politics".
'Case by case'
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have already said they will take part in the programme, which is due to be broadcast 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.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.""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". The BBC had already confirmed that it may invite Mr Griffin, who was elected as an MEP in June, 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.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.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.
A Labour spokesman said the party had reviewed its policy of refusing to share a platform with the BNP.
The spokesman said: "Following the BBC's decision to allow Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time, the Labour Party has agreed we should take on the disgusting politics of the BNP by participating in the programme.
He added that future programmes will be treated "on a case by case basis".