'BBC wrong to have BNP on Question Time'

Independent columnist Philip Hensher goes against the paper's editorial today and argues that it would be wrong for the BBC to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time.
In a piece entitled 'Why should the BNP sit with the grown-ups', Hensher argues: "Some senior figures in the party have a history of genocide denial which would be illegal in many European countries, and there are clear instances from the past of statements inciting racial or religious hatred which are illegal in this one. The BBC has a responsibility towards free speech, but free speech is also limited by law. I can't think of a British political party whose representatives, before appearing on Question Time, would have to be instructed that some of their opinions could not be broadcast.
"The BBC is making a mistake here. I don't believe that the BNP should be banned from the media altogether. The BBC has a clear public duty to quiz its representatives, and interrogate their policies. But there is no obligation whatsoever on the corporation to include the full range of political opinion on any one of its programmes, even Question Time. It would be sending a responsible message by refusing to let these spotty proponents of hatred sit with the grown-ups."