Griffin shot himself in foot, claim Question Time audience members
By Lauren Turner and Theo Usherwood
Published: 23/10/2009
Members of the audience said BNP leader Nick Griffin “shot himself in the foot“ during Question Time last night.
David Kernohan, 26, of Kings Lynn, Surrey, said: “I think he came across very badly. By the end, the audience were essentially ridiculing him and shouting things at him.
“He was obviously very nervous. I don’t think he would be pleased with the performance.
“Jack Straw was the most forceful and gave him the hardest time.
“Bonnie Greer just dismissed him and didn’t seem to want to waste her time on him.
“I think he made a fool of himself and will have turned moderate people off the party. He’s shot himself in the foot.
“It was excellent — a good day for democracy.”
Those watching the filming had their mobile phones confiscated and were made to pass through X-ray machines before entering the studio.
Several audience members said they thought the protest outside Television Centre had not been necessary.
Shimal Thakrar, 33, from Edgware, London, said: “It certainly wasn’t as controversial as had been made out beforehand. The guy couldn’t stand his ground at all.
“He contradicted himself throughout. He had no consistency.
“I think it was a needed debate. But he’s not a politician.”
Mr Thakrar said the audience hissed and booed during the filming and shouted: “Liar” and “Get out the door,” at Griffin.
Fred Smith, 68, from Isleworth, said: “If he’s on another one of these I think I’ll miss it. There was no trouble apart from a few people shouting rubbish.
“It was far more noisy when Margaret Beckett was on talking about expenses.”
Ed Lousley, 25, of Camberwell, London, said: “Nick Griffin really didn’t get a particularly good reception.
“Gradually the audience got tired of his comments. He started rambling on. He came across as just a racist and a bigot.
“There was lots of sighs of boredom when he started talking.”
Leslie Kiddoo and Tom Lees, two students from London, were in the Question Time audience. Miss Kiddoo, 21, said: “Nick Griffin was contradicting himself saying he was misquoted constantly but he kept on changing his position.
“He said that gay men were creepy and that they should prevent militant gay men going into primary schools to preach homosexuality.
“One of the last questions was whether Question Time was an early Christmas for the BNP and the resounding answer was no.”
Mr Lees, 20, said: “Nick Griffin really contradicted himself and showed himself to be the man he is.
“He said he didn’t know anybody in the KKK but then he said he was friends with somebody in the KKK but it was the non-violent branch.
“He was squirming around quite a lot.”
Three people were arrested last night as anti-fascist protesters demonstrating against the BNP leader’s appearance on Question Time broke through a security cordon outside BBC Television Centre.
About 25 protesters gained entry to the reception area of the building in White City, west London, as more than 500 people demonstrated outside ahead of the filming of the programme.
As the debate approached, the chants outside Television Centre the crowd yelled: “We’re black, white, Asian and Jew, BBC shame on you”, and “we won’t let Nick Griffin through”.
But the BNP leader used a side entrance to gain access to Television Centre.
Senior BBC broadcaster Jeremy Bowen said as he left the building last night: “I think it’s fine that people are protesting. It’s a legitimate protest. People are making clear their views.
“I think we live in a free society and there’s free speech.”