Brown: Now we’ll see what the BNP are really like
By politics.co.uk staff
Gordon Brown has commented on Nick Griffin’s appearance on Question Time, just hours before he appears on air.
Speaking to Real radio in Yorkshire, Mr Brown said the programme should allow viewers to see the British National party (BNP) for what they really are.
“If on Question Time, they are asked about their racist and bigoted views that are damaging to good community relations, it will be a good opportunity to expose what they are about,” he said.
“I hope that the exposure of the BNP will make people see what they are really like.
“At every point, I believe we have got a duty to expose the BNP for what are racist and sectarian politics.
“Anybody who listens to what they are really about will find that what they are saying is unacceptable.
“In a recession, people are tempted to vote against their traditional voting patterns like voting Labour, which we regret. But I want to persuade people that voting for the BNP is not the right thing to do.”
Mr Brown insisted he had confidence in justice secretary Jack Straw’s ability to expose Mr Griffin.
“Jack Straw is a very experienced person who has had to deal with the BNP and their awful politics over a period of time.”
The prime minister continued: “We have got a country that is diverse, where people have a lot of freedoms and choices.”
“For a political party to exclude people on the grounds of race is completely unacceptable.
“Their views about mixed marriages and everything else are unacceptable for the modern world.”
“Do you really want to vote for, support or give succour to a party that wanted to exclude people from their party on the grounds of race and colour in the way that they did for many years?
“Do you want to support a party that has some of the most bigoted views in our country?”
