Gary Lineker insists he does NOT fear suspension by BBC and stands by tweet comparing UK migrant policy to 1930s Germany
GARY Lineker today said he stands by comparing the government’s new anti-small boats plan to 1930s Germany.
Outside his London home, the Match of the Day presenter told reporters he isn’t scared of being sacked by BBC bosses for expressing strong political views.
AFPGary Lineker is standing by his tweet comparing the government’s Illegal Migration Bill to 1930s Germany[/caption]
It comes as chiefs at the broadcaster scramble to get Mr Lineker to tone down his Twitter account.
Yesterday, the presenter was warned he’d be “spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities”.
But instead he doubled down, saying: “I’m sticking to politics.”
This morning Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer warned: “The BBC has a ten-point plan in relation to impartiality.
“It is absolutely important that it maintains impartiality so that the public retains trust in it.”
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Mr Lineker sparked major backlash this week when he took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
The legislation will see illegal migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
But the bill faces an uphill battle against human rights groups and campaigners who argue it clashes with the European Convention on Human Right.
The government is expected to be taken to court over the legislation – but ministers vow they’re “up for the fight”.
Mr Lineker tweeted: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to another user who described him as “out of order”, he added: “We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
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Politicians have lined up to slam Mr Lineker, who is on a taxpayer-funded salary of £1,350,000.
In the Commons, DUP MP Gregory Campbell called for “lefty Lineker” to have his pay docked.
He said: “Will the Culture Secretary meet again with the director general to ensure that the BBC reviews the contracts of well-known multimillionaire lefty Lineker?”
When asked by reporters “do you stand by what you said in your tweet?”, Mr Lineker said “course”.
And asked “do you fear getting suspended?”, the ex-footballer told reporters “no.”
As a sports presenter Mr Lineker isn’t bound by strict BBC social media rules in the same way news reporters are.
But he’s been accused by Tory MPs of frequently pushing boundaries of BBC impartiality guidelines.
Previously, the broadcaster’s complaints team found the ex-footballer guilty of breaking impartiality rules in a tweet asking if the Tories planned to “hand back their donations from Russian donors”.
