First and foremost, the system must work. We must have rigorous border controls with entry and exit checks. We can only adopt liberal policies within Britain, if we first know who is coming in and out. The government's alternative of identity cards and endless intrusive biometric checking is both less liberal and less workable. We must also prioritise resources to track down and stop the people traffickers that cause misery to countless vulnerable women, children and refugees every year.

Second, we must plan for the effects of immigration on public services, housing and the economy. In particular, we need to focus on areas where population changes have been the fastest. At the moment there is an unacceptable three-year time lag between population changes in local areas and corresponding changes in the allocation of Government grants to local authorities. Such inefficient centralisation leads directly to greater public anxiety about immigration.

Finally, we must focus on integration alongside immigration. From tackling segregation in schools to increasing English language courses, we need to make it easier for people to come together in our communities. Most controversially, we need to do something to tackle the growing underclass of illegal immigrants who live and work in the UK but have no rights, no legal protections, and no access to services.

You cannot have free speech only for the people who say what you like. That's not how it works. The Voltaire quote still applies.
As long as they aren't actually telling people to commit acts that are illegal, they should be allowed to stand. if they stand and people vote for them, then they have a right to be heard.
These are the rules we have. They are good rules. They've been good rules for thousands of years. It would be an act of incredible arrogance to disregard these rules simply because somebody doesn't conform to our own tastes.

Jon

Please yes. The more people that hear the crap they spout the more likely undecideds will choose not to vote for them.

I guess part of me is disappointed, but at the same time, this reaction is probably mild compared with the one the old place would've given

Disappointed? Why? I mean, a majority of reactions have been to agree to let them go on TV.

Yeah, just so they can embarrass themselves or just raise awareness of how crap they are. Maybe they have something of value to say. I just sometimes forget how the lack of balance here often winds me up.

I believe not many of the panelists will come up smelling of roses if the BNP do appear.