07/10/2009

Available for over a year

Since the BNP won two seats in the European Parliament, they have been subject to more media coverage than ever before. The NUJ stresses engagement rather than censorship, although insists their members should 'refuse to be used to propagate racist propaganda'. Some would rather the party was denied a platform entirely. In line with its rules on impartiality, the BBC has invited Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, on to Question Time. So what should the media's approach to the British National Party be? Mehdi Hasan, senior politics editor for The New Statesman, and the BBC's chief political advisor Ric Bailey join Steve to discuss. As a glittering array of the great and good in British broadcasting prepare to attend a bash to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Steve speaks to Jocelyn Hay, their founding member, and finds out how this campaigning organisation put consumers on the map so that no broadcasting policy change is complete without a public consultation. Now all the three main party leaders are signed up to take part in proposed televised election debates, Steve asks Anne McElvoy, political columnist with the London Evening Standard, how the planned debates will actually work.