So #bbcqt - what a laugh, eh?

[miss_s_b]

The BBC Speke Yor Branes Have Your Say forums are already overrun with people saying it was a set-up, poor ickle Dick Griffin didn't get the chance he deserved, the audience were all hand-picked leftie conspirators, etc. Griffin himself thinks he came across well. My view is more akin to that of Mark Reckons.

I thought he got ample opportunity to spout his poisonous tosh, and I thought the rest of the panel missed a few golden opportunies to skewer him, but on the whole he came across like the lying, shifty, weaselly toad he clearly is. I don't think the show will have put off any fervid BNPers, but it might have made a few protest voters think again - after all, he came across as just as two-faced and weaselly as any other politician. It's understandable that Dimbledore was so hostile to him, but it did kind of add to the air of the lynch mob, and it would have been better if the show had not been entirely BNP-focussed... But, on the whole, it was an entertaining hour, and Griffin came across as the swivel-eyed loon he clearly is. It could have been worse. It could have been Brons. He's actually got a braincell, and would have been much more coherent.

Best panellist this week? Bonnie Greer, by a country mile. Worst? I don't think I need to say, do I?

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Comments

[matgb]

to have a Liberal on the panel saying that we let in too man of those dodgy Eastern European types

See, I just reread what he actually said, and at the time he said it I turned to Jennie and said "and Chris just said what I'd just been saying" except...

He didn't finish the point. I don't think he was trying to sound anti-immigration, I think he missed the actual attack, namely that the problems undoubtedly caused in some areas due to a large influx of Poles &c was that the Govt underestimated horribly, and didn't reallocate resources to areas affected--you can't have a school funding settlement based on the 2001 census then import a couple hundred extra kids into the area and not expect resentment.

They came to work, they payed tax, NI and VAT, they spent money in local businessesses and we benefitted immensely overall, but the Govt allowed those areas unused to population expansions go unhelped, and that then fueled resentment overall.

Chris's actual point, that they messed up in their predictions and didn't implement it properly, was a bloody good one, and the whole not counting people out thing is also a massive problem--I know for a fact there are people here in the country now, illegally, who got in with an ECO letter with my or my sister's signature on for a short term study course several years ago.

Personally, if they're working, and paying taxes, then I have no problem with them being here, but the system doesn't know they're here, which is really bad.

(I didn't vote for either, couldn't decide, still unsure which was better, neither is perfect)

[(Anonymous)]

I also think Chris has a fair point here.

By that point in the programme he had already argued broader liberal points - particularly during his very strong refutation of the BNP's hatemongery.

He was right to point out that the Government did not manage the sudden influx from the new EU states well and that that caused real problems for many communities. In my view there is a good case that the Uk should have taken the same approach as nearly all the other EU states (many of which have more liberal Governments than ours) and manage the numbers coming in for at least a few years.

Personally I think we do need mainstream politicians to discuss these genuine problems and that that means the BNP are not able to hijack such problems for their own ends quite so easily.

Liberal Neil.