Freedom of speech is for everyone

MPs and others demanding that the BBC withdraw their invitation to the BNP to take part in Question Time really should grow up. I hate to defend the BNP but democracy and freedom of speech means that people you really do disagree with have the same right to their point of view as you do.

If you are not prepared to defend their rights then everyone else's rights are eroded. Once freedom of speech applies to just people we can tolerate or agree with then it becomes meaningless.

As for Peter Hain's claim it is an illegal organisation? Why should the BBC fire the arrows handed to it by the Government? If it is illegal - fine. The Government have the means to ban it - if they want to risk months in court of course.

It should be remembered though that enough people prefer the BNP to Labour, Tory or Lib Dem to have given them two MEPs and numerous councillors. The BBC, quite rightly, want all shades of the political spectrum on Question Time, not just those approved by New Labour.

It would be foolish to underestimate Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, but to ban him makes it look as if the mainstream parties have no answer to his arguments or are frightened of him and if that is the case we are all in trouble.