A former BBC boss has said presenters like Gary Lineker who are “inextricably bound up with an important BBC programme” should have to abide by impartiality rules.
15.03.2023 - 13:49 / deadline.com
All eyes have been trained on Gary Lineker’s Twitter account since the Match of the Day host struck a deal with BBC management to return to work this weekend, and he has not disappointed.
In amongst numerous tweets about football, Lineker has slammed a Conservative MP for “outrageous and dangerously provocative” accusations against him and retweeted a video of former Prime Minister Theresa May’s criticism of the government’s proposed immigration bill. Scroll down for both.
Lineker responded angrily to a Conservative MP, Jonathan Gullis, who claimed during a Channel 4 News interview that the former England footballer had called people in the North of England “racist bigots and Nazis.”
The clip and a screenshot was widely shared on Twitter and Lineker quote-tweeted one of these screenshots with the remark: “No he hasn’t and never would. This is outrageous and dangerously provocative.”
Lineker was stood down by the BBC last weekend for comparing the government’s language around its asylum policy to Nazi Germany and he at no point accused UK citizens of behaving like “racist bigots and Nazis.”
He retweeted May’s outburst against the policy yesterday – another Channel 4 News clip – in which she used a parliamentary debate to say immigrants would “have the door to the UK shut in their face” under the government’s proposals. May, a former Home Secretary, also described the policy as a “blanket dismissal” of those facing persecution.
Lineker’s retweet will raise a few eyebrows, given that he has agreed to abide by the BBC’s social media guidelines for presenters in the interim before the BBC updates these guidelines in the coming weeks, with the terms of an independent review set to be outlined in the coming days.
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A former BBC boss has said presenters like Gary Lineker who are “inextricably bound up with an important BBC programme” should have to abide by impartiality rules.
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Self Esteem showed her support for Gary Lineker last night (March 11) by wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Free Gary” at her Eventim Apollo show in London.The singer-songwriter – real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor – shared on Twitter an image of herself sporting the tee at the show, writing “Solidarity” and tagging the BBC Sport presenter.She has followed in the footsteps of Fatboy Slim, who on Friday (March 10) displayed Lineker’s face on a video screen behind him. The move was met by huge cheers from fans who were watching the DJ perform in Manchester.It comes amid a row between the BBC and Lineker after the latter on Tuesday (March 7) called the government’s controversial plan to ban people arriving in the UK illegally from ever claiming asylum an “immeasurably cruel”.
The BBC has recently descended into chaos after Gary Lineker was forced to step back from hosting Match of the Day following a row over impartiality. The footballer-turned-pundit, 62, was accused of breaching the BBC's impartiality rules after he posted a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with that of 1930s Germany.
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Celebrities and cultural figures including a Nobel literature laureate and comedian have voiced their thoughts on the BBC’s impartiality row involving Gary Lineker.The corporation on Friday said it had “decided” the former England star would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.The 62 year old became embroiled in a row over impartiality after using Twitter to compare the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany. Many have used the hashtags #StandWithGary, #IStandWithGaryLineker OR #IStandWithGary to voice their support for Lineker.
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Fatboy Slim has thrown his support behind Gary Lineker after the footballer turned pundit was asked to “step back” from his presenting duties at the BBC.Earlier this week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman outlined the government’s controversial plan to ban people arriving in the UK illegally from ever claiming asylum.Lineker responded, calling it an “immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”. Braverman then hit out at Lineker, saying that his comments “diminished the unspeakable tragedy” of the Holocaust.There is no huge influx.
The BBC’s popular Premier League highlights show Match of the Day will air without a studio presenter or its regular roster of pundits after lead presenter Gary Lineker was asked to step back from coverage after breaking the broadcaster’s impartiality rules on Twitter.
Gary Lineker has a history of posting politically charged tweets during his time as a BBC TV presenter, which has been revealed in the wake of the former footballer turned pundit being criticised for commenting on the government's immigration policy. It also comes as the TV star announced he will “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media.
Piers Morgan has joined a chorus of criticism against the BBC’s decision to suspend Gary Lineker after he compared British government rhetoric to Nazi Germany.
Gary Lineker has revealed that it was the BBC's decision for him to step back as presenter of Match of the Day.
Gary Lineker will “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media.The presenter has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.The announcement prompted pundit and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright to tweet that he will not be appearing on the programme on Saturday in “solidarity” with Lineker. A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days.
Match of the Day presenter Ian Wright has said he will not appear on tomorrow’s edition of the BBC’s Premier League highlights show in “solidarity” with lead presenter Gary Lineker who was asked to step back from coverage after breaking the broadcaster’s impartiality rules on Twitter.
Gary Lineker is stepping back from presenting Match of the Day over a row over the BBC's impartiality terms, the broadcaster confirmed on Friday.