Richard Barnbrook’s question 3342 / 2009: Will the Mayor condemn the disgraceful violence & disorder perpetrated by the UAF organisation outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House following Mr Nick Griffin’s lawful invitation onto that evening’s Question Time programme? This behaviour resulted in three police officers being injured. Many politicians & public figures are signatories to the UAF organisation. Will the Mayor ask the Commissioner of the MPS to ban such an assembly should be the BBC invite Mr Griffin onto the show at some future date?
Johnson’s written answer: The disorder was actually outside Television Centre, not Broadcasting House. I believe that it was counter-productive in the fight against the offensive views of Nick Griffin and the BNP. It diverted the media’s interest away from scrutinising the unpleasantness of Mr Griffin’s party and only succeeded in giving him even more publicity. I have no intention of banning legal protests against the BNP. I believe in freedom of speech.
Close scrutiny of this “answer” is revealing. Johnson clearly fails to condemn an event that led to police injuries. He makes no reference to these injuries, or suggests any way of avoiding such pointless violence. Then he claims to advocate freedom of speech referring to an event specifically aimed at preventing it!
what a buffon
So,our Boris supports 'freedom of speech'.Then why doesn't he condemn riots against it in the shape of the UAF,of course he can't,he's party leader is a main supporter,along with quite a few many more MPs.There will be a day when we do get freedom of speech and that will work in our favour.
Him and his ilk don't know the meaning of free speach, wake up peaple it's time to smell the coffee.
Its funny how they used Johnson's remarks about "smiling picaninies" to accuse him of racism in the mayoral contest, but now ultra rich Tory toff Boris himself still plays the race card to smear his opponents.
What can you expect from an immigrant, and an ignorant one as well, the B.N.P. thrive on people
Like Johnson because we can use this sort of thing against him at a later date. AND WE WILL!!!