Review: BBC Question Time, Thursday 15th October 2009

Nigel Farage (UKIP) said of expenses that it was what is not being said by the Legg inquiry which shocked him - like 'flipping' and avoidance of Capital Gains Tax. Says he thinks some MPs will end up in prison and, as far as the British public are concerned, it can't happen soon enough. Said attempts to "sanitise" the BNP by amending it's constitution to allow non-white members was a mistake as if they were just left as they were, the BNP would go absolutely nowhere. Pointed out the role of the European Union in the current mail dispute and he urged mail workers not to strike as, with Christmas contracts due, it would be totally suicidal of them to do so. Accused the Labour Government of demanding more from our servicemen while providing our troops with less. Called for a short timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Our Rating: A solid performance and he spoke a lot of sense a lot of the time. 8/12

Alan Johnson (ZaNuLiebour) said MPs should just pay back the money they have been asked to else no-one will ever hear the end of it. Tried turning the issue against UKIP but Farage pointed out that ZaNuLiebour will probably send Jacqui Smith to the House of Lords. Said the BNP are a "white supremacist" party who are "illegally constituted" and on that basis, he said that the BBC should review their invitation to the party to appear on the show. Continued to attack the BBC's invitation to the BNP saying it would give them legitimacy. Was very defensive of the continuing deployment of British troops in Afghanistan. Dumblebee seriously made him - and Gormless - look dubious over the issue of equipment for our troops.
Our Rating: Know what? He seemed to say a lot of words but despite having that cuddly Uncle / Grandfather air of reassurance about him, what he had to say made us like him less than we like Gormless. Which is quite a triumph. 0/12

Damian Green (Conservative) said MPs should pay back any expenses they have been asked to as democracy was under threat through people's perceptions of the scandal. Said that it would be ironic if they reach the end of this Parliament and the only person to have been arrested were to be... him, for doing his job. Said he was pleased that people were talking about the BNP as it was now known that they had a ban on non-white people in their constitution. Said that you cannot win an argument through censorship. Expressed the view that the problems with Royal Mail were due to many reasons - not least the fact that ZaNuLiebour are running scared of the unions. Lost our attention when he trotted out the Government line on Afghanistan.
Our Rating: Was doing incredibly well until he got on to the subject of Afghanistan and how much we in Britain are protected by our role in the country. Which is all very well, but if Frankenstein creates a monster. A member of the studio audience who actually came from Afghanistan could teach all of our politicians things that make far more sense to the chaos and come up with strategies more acceptable for harmony in the world. 6/12

Norman Baker (LibDem) said that the expenses scandal goes to the heart of the public's trust in politicians. Said that those who have made tens of thousands of pounds should be "named and nailed". Asked the sensible question of whether non-white people would be queuing up to join the BNP if it had a changed membership criteria. Said the BBC has an obligation to reflect society - and that included the BNP, no matter if people disliked it. On the mail strike ballot, he said the union and Royal Mail were as bad as each other. In respect of Afghanistan, he said that we should not support an illegitimate regime with the lives of our soldiers.
Our Rating: Norman Baker is a rare beast - a Liberal Democrat who we will listen to and who has things worth hearing. So, not for the first time, we have to rate a Liberal Democrat reasonably positively. If only Norman Baker and Charles Kennedy were on the only Liberal Democrats. We might actually listen to the two of them as a party. 8/12

Joan Bakewell (broadcaster) said the expenses scandal raised issues about the lack of morals. Accused the Fees Office of being "complicit" in the scandal. Said that the conflict in Afghanistan cannot be won and is futile.
Our Rating: We used to like her Heart of the Matter programme. And she did something on BBC2 once about art and porn which put a male erection onto British television. Complete with total pixelation. On Question Time? Not quite as bad as Will Young, but getting there. 3/12

Best moment: When the studio audience booed Jacqui Smith's name as loudly as they did that of BNP leader Nick Griffin.

Official Question Time website - click HERE.