Dale: Wilders, Riefenstahl and Perplexed of Tunbridge Wells

Iain Dale has now followed my advice and taken the time to watch Fitna. He associates its juxtapositions with the style of Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl. Didn't see question time, though I caught some of the Afters show with a gent called Neil O'Brien, Chief Agent of Policy Exchange, plus Steve Webb MP, the Lib Dem who possibly fared the worst in Nick Clegg's secret interview.

Both the Tory and the Liberal took the other line to their representatives in the main show. No doubt a Labour voice could have been found who would have done likewise.

What these people may or may not realise is that Hizb_ut-Tahrir pushed Geert Wilders' call for the banning of the Qur'an to front and centre of the Stand Up For Islam campaign last year. They are a minority taste just now. But their reaching a tipping point and getting more traction in the mainstream is a danger.

They are committed - in the UK - to non-violent means. And some of the material they have produced, such as an alternative dossier on Iraq, is of worthy quality. But having the author of a campaign to ban the Qur'an - but not the Compendium of Majick that passes for the Holy Book of the Judeo-Christian tradition - having him feted in the Palace of Westminster, why that might have been a step too far.

Clearly some Islamist stirrers have been banned too, while some fascist stirrers have been allowed in, notably Jean Marie Le Pen in the run up to the last Euro Elections. Clearly too neither Iain Dale nor Chris Paul nor Steve Webb nor the impressive Salma Yacoub (Respect) has to actually take these decisions, or deal with the consequences good and bad of the stark yes/no choice made.

I'm content with the choice made in this case. It must have been very tight with good arguments on both sides. the film is readily available. As are interviews with its auteur. I'll be interested to see what the commenterati and especially the Tabloid Subs make of the whole affair.