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| Protests over Griffin appearance | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Anti-fascist campaigners are staging a mass protest at BBC Television Centre as British National Party leader Nick Griffin takes part in Question Time. | |
| There are several hundred protesters outside the building, although it is calmer than earlier when about 25 broke through police lines into the BBC. | |
| Inside, Mr Griffin was booed as recording of the flagship political discussion programme got under way. | |
| The BBC has defended the programme saying it has a duty to be impartial. | |
| 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 Mark ThompsonBBC director general Read Mark Thompson's article Profile: Nick Griffin | 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 Mark ThompsonBBC director general Read Mark Thompson's article Profile: Nick Griffin |
| Mr Griffin accused the protesters of "attacking the rights of millions of people to listen to what I've got to say and listen to me being called to account by other politicians", adding: "It really is a disgraceful thing." | |
| But Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism accused the BBC of "rolling out the red carpet" to Mr Griffin and said his appearance on the flagship discussion programme "will lead to the growth of a fascist party" and promote violence against ethnic minorities. | But Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism accused the BBC of "rolling out the red carpet" to Mr Griffin and said his appearance on the flagship discussion programme "will lead to the growth of a fascist party" and promote violence against ethnic minorities. |
| Piers Morgan | Piers Morgan |
| The crowd, which is gathered at the main entrance to TV centre in West London, is currently listening to speeches and chanting anti-fascist slogans. | |
| Protesters were removed from TV centre by police | Protesters were removed from TV centre by police |
| But earlier, at about 1630 BST, security guards opened a gate to let a car into the front car park when about 25 people rushed forward and jumped over the barriers, one of which broke, and ran towards the building. | But earlier, at about 1630 BST, security guards opened a gate to let a car into the front car park when about 25 people rushed forward and jumped over the barriers, one of which broke, and ran towards the building. |
| A few minutes later the individuals were seen being led, dragged or carried back outside. | A few minutes later the individuals were seen being led, dragged or carried back outside. |
| The Metropolitan Police say three people have been arrested, and estimate there are about 500 people taking part in the demonstration. | The Metropolitan Police say three people have been arrested, and estimate there are about 500 people taking part in the demonstration. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIf Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time has the ultimate effect of shaking the 'great' british public free of their political apathy and encourages them to ask probing questions, then his appearance will be a good thingJohn Walker, Belfast Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYIf Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time has the ultimate effect of shaking the 'great' british public free of their political apathy and encourages them to ask probing questions, then his appearance will be a good thingJohn Walker, Belfast Send us your comments |
| Lukas Keudic, 20, a student at King's College London, was one of those who managed to get to the doors of the studio where the controversial debate is due to be held later. | Lukas Keudic, 20, a student at King's College London, was one of those who managed to get to the doors of the studio where the controversial debate is due to be held later. |
| He said: "We were in the main reception next to Piers Morgan when about 30 police officers turned up. There were about 10 to 20 of us and we were just standing there chanting in a peaceful protest. | He said: "We were in the main reception next to Piers Morgan when about 30 police officers turned up. There were about 10 to 20 of us and we were just standing there chanting in a peaceful protest. |
| "We spoke to the police and they started grabbing us." | "We spoke to the police and they started grabbing us." |
| Gordon Brown | Gordon Brown |
| Speaking before the violence erupted, one of the protesters, Francis Pilling, 47, who works with immigrants and asylum seekers, said: "I'm here because I'm a committed anti-racist. We have to learn the lessons of history - we've seen what can happen when fascists gain strength." | Speaking before the violence erupted, one of the protesters, Francis Pilling, 47, who works with immigrants and asylum seekers, said: "I'm here because I'm a committed anti-racist. We have to learn the lessons of history - we've seen what can happen when fascists gain strength." |
| EYEWITNESS VIEW From BBC reporter Victoria King outside BBC TV Centre: | EYEWITNESS VIEW From BBC reporter Victoria King outside BBC TV Centre: |
| What began as simply a vocal demonstration descended into angry and chaotic scenes. One moment the protesters were standing outside the building's reception and the next they were charging at its main gates. A security barrier was broken and a small number of demonstrators forced their way inside. Police chased after them and one by one individuals were seen being led, dragged or carried back outside. At the same time, officers were trying to hold the main gates closed and to force people away from the building. Pushing them back eventually led to them blocking Wood Lane entirely, trapping bemused passengers in two buses in the middle of it all. With flares going off and shouts of "Nazi scum, off our streets", the atmosphere was highly charged. | What began as simply a vocal demonstration descended into angry and chaotic scenes. One moment the protesters were standing outside the building's reception and the next they were charging at its main gates. A security barrier was broken and a small number of demonstrators forced their way inside. Police chased after them and one by one individuals were seen being led, dragged or carried back outside. At the same time, officers were trying to hold the main gates closed and to force people away from the building. Pushing them back eventually led to them blocking Wood Lane entirely, trapping bemused passengers in two buses in the middle of it all. With flares going off and shouts of "Nazi scum, off our streets", the atmosphere was highly charged. |
| There are also protests currently taking place outside BBC buildings in Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, where security staff and police officers stopped them from entering the building, and Belfast. | There are also protests currently taking place outside BBC buildings in Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, where security staff and police officers stopped them from entering the building, and Belfast. |
| Earlier on Thursday BBC director general Mark Thompson said it was up to the government to ban the BNP from the airwaves if it felt Mr Griffin should not be allowed to take part in Question Time. | Earlier on Thursday BBC director general Mark Thompson said it was up to the government to ban the BNP from the airwaves if it felt Mr Griffin should not be allowed to take part in Question Time. |
| Some high profile Labour politicians - including cabinet ministers Peter Hain and Alan Johnson - have said they opposed the BBC decision to allow the anti-immigrant party a place on Question Time. | Some high profile Labour politicians - including cabinet ministers Peter Hain and Alan Johnson - have said they opposed the BBC decision to allow the anti-immigrant party a place on Question Time. |
| But Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a matter for the corporation and he did not want to interfere with it, while Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said that most of the cabinet did not share Mr Hain's view. | But Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a matter for the corporation and he did not want to interfere with it, while Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said that most of the cabinet did not share Mr Hain's view. |
| Mr Byford had earlier defended the BBC's decision to invite Mr Griffin, whose party gained its first Euro MPs this year, on to the flagship political programme. | Mr Byford had earlier defended the BBC's decision to invite Mr Griffin, whose party gained its first Euro MPs this year, on to the flagship political programme. |
| He said: "They should have the right to be heard, be challenged, and for the public who take part in Question Time and the viewers to make up their own minds about the views of the BNP. It's not for the BBC to censor and say they can't be on." | He said: "They should have the right to be heard, be challenged, and for the public who take part in Question Time and the viewers to make up their own minds about the views of the BNP. It's not for the BBC to censor and say they can't be on." |
| The panel also includes Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Conservative shadow community cohesion minister Baroness Warsi, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne and playwright and critic Bonnie Greer. | The panel also includes Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Conservative shadow community cohesion minister Baroness Warsi, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne and playwright and critic Bonnie Greer. |
| You can watch Question Time on BBC One at 2235 BST and on the BBC News website. | You can watch Question Time on BBC One at 2235 BST and on the BBC News website. |