by Former England footballer and captain Gary Lineker has been sacked by the BBC after criticizing the Conservative government’s immigration policy, sparking a row between the government and Britain’s highest-paid public broadcaster.
On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak’s government introduced a new law that would prevent migrants arriving in small boats across the Channel from applying for asylum and lead to their immediate deportation to their home country or to third countries deemed safe.
The new illegal immigration law has drawn criticism from opposition parties, non-governmental organizations and the UN refugee agency for the impact it would have on refugees.
Lineker, who has hosted refugees in her home, posted a video of Home Secretary Suella Braverman talking about the new law, with the comment “Oh my God, this is beyond horrible”.
When challenged by another Twitter user, he replied: “There is no huge influx. We are taking in far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an extremely harsh policy aimed at the most vulnerable people, in language not unlike what Germany used in the 1930s, and I’m getting ugly?
Lineker faced a backlash over his comments, which were criticized by the prime minister’s spokeswoman Rishi Sunak as “unacceptable” and “disappointing”, but said he would “continue to try to speak for the poor souls who have no voice”.
The BBC revealed it had held talks with Lineker and his team in recent days and had decided he would step down from presenting the programme. Match of the day (MOTD) until they have “a clear and agreed position on the use of social media”.
Lineker has hosted the show for over 20 years and has never been shy about expressing his views on political issues.
Former Arsenal and England international Ian Wright said he would not be appearing at Saturday’s MOTD in “solidarity” with Lineker.
Breaking the rules
The BBC said Lineker’s social media activity breached its rules.
“We never said that Gary shouldn’t have opinions or that he can’t have an opinion on issues that are important to him, but we did say that he should stay far away from taking sides on partisan political issues or political controversies. ” he added.
The public broadcaster is funded by a levy paid by UK residents and says it is committed to being politically impartial.
Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid personality – earning more than £1.3m in 2021/2022. And he doesn’t hide his views on politics and beyond, having co-founded a podcast production company whose shows include “The Rest is Politics.”
Last year, the BBC’s complaints unit said Lineker failed to meet editorial standards of impartiality when he posted a message on Twitter asking whether the Conservative government would return money from Russian donors after then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urged football clubs to boycott the Champions. Championship final in Russia.
BBC chairman Richard Sharpe is under fire for not saying he helped former prime minister Boris Johnson secure a loan shortly before he was appointed to the job. His appointment, which was made on the government’s recommendation, is now being reviewed by the body that regulates and oversees appointments in the British public sector.
