I have every respect for the Queen, but if Buckingham Palace does not find a backbone and start to ban the British National Party leader Nick Griffin from its charming little garden parties, I am going to conclude that she has been influenced by the zanier elements of the Windsor family.
The news that after last year’s abortive invitation, Griffin will be attending such an event is shocking but unsurprising. After all, if he can feature on BBC’s Question Time, why can’t he attend a private event?
But the same argument applies against both: this Holocaust-denier does not lead a “normal” political party, even if he did become an MEP off the back of its 1.3 per cent supposed “breakthrough” last year.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman has said:
He [Griffin] was eligible to nominate himself as a guest as an elected member of the European Parliament. Buckingham Palace would not discriminate against elected representatives of the European Parliament.
Depressingly, it would be too much to expect Griffin and his rabble to be dismissed because they are racists. But what about the fact that a number of them are convicted criminals? Still, “Prince” Philip will have fun, what what?