Gary Lineker blasted by Tory MPs for comparing Suella Braverman’s illegal immigration plans to Nazi Germany
Lineker #Lineker
Gary Lineker will be “spoken to” by BBC management after he likened Suella Braverman’s immigration announcement to Nazi Germany.
The Match of the Day host’s comments were made as the Home Secretary set out the Government’s plans to finally “stop the boats” of migrants crossing the Channel.
Mrs Braverman insisted Britain was “committed to helping those in need”, citing support schemes for refugees from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine.
However, she added “if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay” and took aim at undocumented arrivals who “jump the queue” and “game the system”.
Mr Lineker quoted Mrs Braverman’s announcement video on Twitter, writing: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Replying to someone who accused him of being “out of order”, Mr Lineker replied: “There is no huge influx. 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?”
‘Enough of listening to Gary Lineker’
Lee Anderson, deputy chairman of the Tory party, said: “Brits have had enough of listening to Gary Lineker spout the latest trendy takes on politics.
“This is just another example of how out of touch these overpaid stars are with the voting public. Instead of lecturing, Mr Lineker should stick to reading out the football scores and flogging crisps.”
Brendan Clarke-Smith, the Conservative MP for the Red Wall seat of Bassetlaw, told The Telegraph: “This country has a long and proud record of taking in refugees, most recently from Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
“It’s not just insulting to this nation and the generosity of Brits, but also grossly offensive to the victims of one of the most evil regimes in history, which we also fought against and took many refugees from.
“Lineker is out of order and needs to get out of his metropolitan bubble and learn some perspective. People are sick and tired of being accused of racism for simply wanting to see a fair and proportionate asylum system.”
Marco Longhi, Tory MP for Dudley, added: “Gary Lineker is your stereotypical champagne socialist who has no concept of the real world or real people.
‘He should stand for election’
“He’s a multimillionaire who is now using his BBC licence fee-funded platform to talk politics. He should stand for election here in Dudley, meet the real people I meet who cannot get a council house and see how far his virtue signalling gets him.”
Last year Mr Lineker was found to have broken the BBC’s impartiality rules after he tweeted his views on the Conservative Party.
Responding to then foreign secretary Liz Truss urging a boycott of the Champions League final when it was still scheduled to be held in Russia, he wrote: “And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?”
The channel’s executive complaints unit said his high profile came with “additional responsibility”. It pointed to guidance stating individuals in his position should “avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies”.
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC has social media guidance, which is published. Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media. We have appropriate internal processes in place if required.”
A BBC source said: “Gary will be spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities on social media.”
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