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Protests over Griffin appearance Protests over Griffin appearance
(10 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. Anti-fascist campaigners have staged a mass protest at BBC Television Centre as British National Party leader Nick Griffin took 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. Several hundred are still outside the London building although it is quieter than earlier when about 25 people broke through police lines and into the BBC.
The recording, which began with Mr Griffin being booed by the audience, has ended and the BNP leader has left. Mr Griffin, who was booed at the start of a recording which went ahead despite the protests, has now left.
The BBC has defended the programme saying it has a duty to be impartial.The BBC has defended the programme saying it has a duty to be impartial.
During the show the panel covered topics including whether it was fair for the BNP to use images of Winston Churchill in their campaigns.
'Demonised'
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said what distinguished the BNP from other parties was that other parties "have a moral compass" adding: "Nazism didn't and neither I'm afraid does the BNP."
Mr Griffin, who said his father had been in the RAF during the Second World War, said he had been "reviled and demonised": "I am not a Nazi and never have been," he said.
But he came under attack during the show from members of the panel and audience, who accused him of "poison politics".
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 GriffinIf 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 repeatedly denied he had said many of the things he had been quoted as saying including a quote attributed to him in the Mail on Sunday that Adolf Hitler went "a bit too far".
He claimed his efforts to change the BNP meant he was unpopular with the far right. "There are Nazis in Britain and they loathe me," he said.
While the programme, which is being broadcast at 2235 BST, was being recorded the anti-BNP protest continued, with the whole BBC building "locked down" for more than an hour and the road closed.
The Metropolitan Police say six protesters have been arrested and three police officers injured in the protests.The Metropolitan Police say six protesters have been arrested and three police officers injured in the protests.
Television Centre was "locked down" until 2000 BST with no staff allowed in or out but a police helicopter continues to hover overhead.
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."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.
Nick Griffin is booed as he enters the Question Time studioNick Griffin is booed as he enters the Question Time studio
The crowd, which had been gathering at the main gates of TV centre in West London since mid afternoon, has moved to a rear entrance to the building, where their path has been blocked by a police line. The crowd had been gathering at the main gates of TV centre in West London since mid afternoon. At about 1630 BST security guards opened a gate to let a car into the front car park about 25 people rushed forward and jumped over the barriers, one of which broke, and ran towards the building.
Earlier, at about 1630 BST, when security guards opened a gate to let a car into the front car park 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.
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 commentsHAVE 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
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 have also been protests outside BBC buildings in Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, where security staff and police officers stopped them from entering the building, and Belfast. There were also protests 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.