Not everyone among my friends thought I was right to say the BBC should have Nick Griffin on BBC Question Time.  Some thought it would win him new fans.  It certainly won the BBC more viewers if it's true that more than 8 million people watched last night (compared to about 2.5 million usually).  Personally, I found the programme a bit like the scene of a car accident.  Horrible to look at but impossible to take my eyes away from.  I draw the following conclusions:

1. Mr Griffin failed to deny many of the accusations about his and his party's true agenda or beliefs.  He admitted he was a Holocaust denier, a racist and white supremacist, a homophobe, and an associate of the Ku Klux Klan (though it's news to me that they're a non-violent organisation).
2. The BBC turned the event into the Nick Griffin show.  I had assumed that whilst the first question would centre on him and his party, we would see him invited to answer questions on the broad range of issues the public deserve to know his views on - for example, the continuing recession, youth unemployment, illiterate children, rising taxation.  We did not.
3. The anti-fascist protests outside Television Centre seemed more like anti-freedom of speech protesters. Millions of people are so disillusioned with politics they have supported the BNP.  That's why the BNP have 2 MEPs and nearly 60 councillors.  Denying them a platform has not worked thus far!  And invading the BBC hardly gives them the moral high ground.  The likes of David Lammy and Peter Haine have clearly learned nothing.
4. Jack Straw ducked and dived the question on immigration and social justice.  The fact is this: Labour have been in office over a decade and promised to support the poorest and most vulnerable in society.  Over a million young people are out of work and without training, pensioners are starving or dyeing of hyperthermia, there is a crisis in housing and education.  Is it a coincidence that the BNP has gained ground under Blair and Brown?

If nothing else, this programme made politics a little more interesting for a lot more people.  Suddenly there's a real debate about the future direction of this country.  

Many residents ask about Europe when I knock on their doors, whether it's because they're fed up with seeing British sovereignty eroded or the Labour government's broken promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.  Many more are anxious about the uncontrolled immigration from across the EU, which the British government alone failed to tackle.

So I am pleased that Mark Francois MP, the Shadow Minister for Europe, will be in Eltham on Thursday 29th October to speak to residents and answer their questions.  This is the latest in a series of public meetings I am organising to enable the community to meet their elected representatives and exchange views.  I feel that in an age when the standing of politicians is so low, such meetings are vital.  I hope many people will take the opportunity to meet and question Mark, the latest in a string of Shadow Cabinet ministers to visit Eltham.  If you would like an invitation, please email me to give your name and address.

I have just returned from a  truly wonderful St George's Day supper in Welling, courtesy of Bexleyheath & Crayford Conservatives.  Henry Bellingham MP, the Shadow Justice Minister gave a rousing speech and reminded us of why we should be proud to be English.  I very much hope that as a nation, in future, we might celebrate St George's Day more widely and with greater gusto.  In this regard, the Irish, Scots and Welsh could certainly teach us a thing or two.