Gary Lineker slapped down after ‘personally insulting’ Tory MP in bitter Rwanda spat

Gary Lineker has furiously hit back at Tory MPs after a row erupted over his latest political intervention.

The Match of the Day host was among a group of celebrities who signed an open letter demanding the Government ditches the Rwanda policy.

But the football pundit was criticised by Conservative politicians including deputy chairman Lee Anderson, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Stoke-on-Trent MP Jonathan Gullis.

Mr Anderson told “overpaid crisp salesman” Lineker to “put a sock in it”, while Mr Gullis claimed the move was “yet another breach of the BBC’s impartiality rules”. Mr Shapps urged the former England footballer to stick to TV rather than politics.

In a frenzied spree on social media platform X, Lineker responded to the Tory MPs.

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In a post to Mr Anderson, he said: “I guess we’ll find out what the will of the British people is at the next general election.

“If you do end up out of work, I’ll put in a word for you with Walkers Crisps.”

Meanwhile, he became embroiled in a bitter war of words with Mr Gullis after appearing to suggest the former minister could not read.

Lineker said: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”

But Mr Gullis replied: “Gary can you tell us when you plan to demand the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas?

“Just when I searched your X feed, the word ‘hostages’ came up with no results.

“I know you once said Hamas are ‘truly awful’ in a reply to someone on X, but seeing as you are not bound by the same rules others in the BBC are, would you be willing to call Hamas ‘terrorists’ like everyone else?

“As for illegal migrants crossing in small boats, I want to see a stop to the trade in human life and deter people from unnecessarily risking their lives to come from France – a safe country (UN founder and NATO member).

“As for the personal insult, I refer you to a quote from the great Margaret Thatcher: ‘If they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.'”

Turning to Mr Shapps, Lineker referred to pseudonyms the Cabinet minister has previously been accused of using.

He said: “A tad rich coming from someone who can’t even stick to one name. Four chaps Shapps.”

Downing Street insisted Rishi Sunak will not be “distracted” by Lineker’s criticism of the Rwanda plan.

Asked if Mr Sunak is surprised that one of the BBC’s biggest stars is speaking out on politics again, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said those questions “are for Mr Lineker himself and, obviously, for the BBC”.

The row comes after Lineker signed an open letter co-ordinated by campaign coalition Together With Refugees calling for the Rwanda scheme to be axed and replaced with a “fair new plan for refugees”.

Lineker, who earns £1.35million a year from the BBC, said: “Refugees have escaped unthinkable horrors in their home countries.

“We need a new system that reflects the will of the British people who have opened their homes, donated and volunteered in their local communities.

“That’s why I’m backing this new campaign – because fair really can begin here.”

Lineker, who is known for wading into politics, sparked a BBC impartiality row in March after he took to social media to slam the Government’s illegal immigration crackdown and compare language used to that of Nazi Germany.

New social media rules by the corporation in the wake of the furore allow high-profile presenters outside of news and current affairs to express personal views on issues but they must stop short of political campaigning.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Like all freelance presenters, Gary is free to contribute to projects for third parties, as long as these do not conflict with his BBC commitments; do not breach guidelines on conflicts of interest; nor bring the BBC into disrepute, and he does so regularly.”