Main content

03/12/10 | WikiLeaks | Immigration | Margaret Hodge vs the BNP

WikiLeaks, immigration, Margaret Hodge.

Spilling the beans by WikiLeaks has caused red faces in high places. But is that all? Does revealing secrets damage trust between the nations and make governing impossible?
Are politicians out of touch? One MP talks of the lessons she learned when faced with a serious challenge in her constituency from the far-right British National Party (BNP). And the growing gulf between the political classes and disaffected voters is revealed in new research which shows that five million Britons wouldn't vote for any of the main parties.
Presented by Edward Stourton.

David Hencke, former investigative reporter at The Guardian, describes his take on the WikiLeaks material.
Different views on the leaks come from Jonathan Powell, formerly Tony Blair's chief of staff, and Chris Mullin, diarist and former minister.
Magaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking, tells how she beat the BNP at the recent General Election and why they were such a threat in her constituency.
James Bethell, director of "Nothing British about the BNP" and Julian Astle, Director of the liberal think tank, CentreForum, explain the findings of their paper identifying a group they call "the ANTIS" - those who are politically angry, economically neglected, socially conservative and focussed on immigration.

Available now

28 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Fri 3 Dec 2010 12:32GMT
  • Fri 3 Dec 2010 16:32GMT
  • Sat 4 Dec 2010 00:32GMT
  • Sat 4 Dec 2010 04:32GMT

成人快手 World Service Archive

This programme was restored as part of the World Service archive project