Griffin in the hot seat

This attempt at damage limitation unintentionally illustrates a couple of the ways in which the British National Party is handicapped by having Mr Griffin as our leader.

For one thing the sound quality is poor.  I have excellent hearing and yet for much of the time I can barely make out what is being said on this video.

Mr Griffin speaks far too quickly.  He gabbles like a naughty child whose hand has become stuck in the cookie jar.  He touches his face, as if he wished to hide his mouth.  He fidgets.  He looks uncomfortable in his own skin.

Why didn't Mr Griffin avail himself of the golden opportunity to set the record straight and answer any and every question and allegation that the BBC's Mr MacIntyre cared to put to him?

If there were any unfairness in editing Mr Griffin's replies (as there might have been) it could have been corrected via the BNP's web site after the event.  But the impression left on the minds of the viewing public by Mr Griffin's bungled attempt to "turn the tables on the BBC" was one of a man who "fled the interview", of a man with something to hide, of a man who could not withstand close questioning, and whose actions could not withstand close scrutiny.

Let's have some openness and honesty, Mr Griffin.  Stop miscalling your internal critics "useful idiots", submit the party's overdue 2010 Accounts to the Electoral Commission, as required by law, and announce that you will attend the BNP Ideas Conference on  Saturday, 22 October, in order to answer any questions party members, past and present, wish to put to you.