London  - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was at the centre of a furious storm Thursday over the planned appearance of an far-right party leader on its premier TV discussion programme.

Nick Griffin, leader of the racist British National Party (BNP) was due to take part in the debate on Question Time later Thursday, with Justice Secretary Jack Straw among panel members.

Anti-fascist protestors gathered outside BBC Television Centre headquarters in west London Thursday to vent their anger at the BBC's invitation to Griffin.

But the BBC said banning the 50-year-old BNP leader would amount to "censorship" after the party won two seats to the European parliament in June.

"The case against inviting the BNP to appear on Question Time is a case for censorship," said BBC director general Mark Thomson. "Censorship cannot be outsourced to the BBC or anyone else."

An appeal by Labour cabinet minister Peter Hain to withdraw the invitation was rejected by a special BBC panel.

"The BBC are in total denial about their giving a massive early Christmas present to the BNP, who are glorying in their appearance on Question Time," Hain said.

Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman attacked the BNP's "apartheid constitution," stipulating that only those of an "ethnic origin" described as "indigenous Caucasian" can become party members.

Outside Television Centre anti-fascist groups were handing out leaflets saying ""No plugs for Nazi Nick" and vowing to stop the BNP leader from reaching the studio for a recording of the programme due to be broadcast at 2135 GMT on BBC1.(dpa)