BBC CHIEF DEFENDS QUESTION TIME FIASCO

Mark Thompson, the corporation’s director general, insisted censorship of extremist political parties was a matter for Parliament rather than the media. But BBC insiders claimed the organisation’s executives were in chaos over the decision and arrangements for the programme.

“No one wants to take any responsibility for this. It has been a fiasco,” said a BBC source.

Under growing pressure, Mr Thompson published an article yesterday claiming the corporation’s “impartiality” was at stake. He said: “My point is simply that the drastic steps of proscription and censorship can only be taken by Government and Parliament. It is unreasonable and inconsistent to take the position that a party like the BNP is acceptable enough for the public to vote for but not acceptable enough to appear on democratic platforms like Question Time.

“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.” Mr Thompson claimed calls for censorship of the BBC could be compared with former Premier Margaret Thatcher’s broadcasting ban on Sinn Fein during the 1980s. He added: “The BNP has demonstrated a level of support which would normally lead to an occasional invitation to join the panel on Question Time. It is for that reason alone that the invitation has been extended.”

Cabinet Minister Peter Hain claimed Mr Thompson was “plain wrong”. But Gordon Brown said the programme was an opportunity to “expose” the BNP and added: “I hope it will make people see what they are really like.”

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said: “We have to take the BNP on. We should not give them the opportunity to claim they are being gagged.”