Outside the BBC HQ in London is a statue of the writer George Orwell.
It bears the words: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they don’t want to hear.”
In his tweets, Gary Lineker did just that. He told the Government that its policies to tackle illegal migration were inhumane and cruel.
Rather than accept that the freelance sports presenter was speaking out of compassion, right-wing MPs called for him to be removed from the BBC. The broadcaster should have stood up to this baying mob and defended free speech and Lineker’s right to voice views which may be unpalatable to others.
The BBC has undermined its own reputation for impartiality by caving in to the demands of the right-wing press and loudmouth Tory MPs.
To take Lineker off air is not only craven, but hypocritical. The BBC chairman, Richard Sharp, remains in place despite helping
facilitate a loan guarantee for Boris Johnson.
The Mirror has launched a petition calling for Lineker to be reinstated. We urge anyone who values liberty and free speech to sign it.
Kids in crisis
The number of children with poor mental health should be classed a national crisis.
Last year, 734,000 young people were referred to mental health services, up from 498,000 in 2021, leaving services unable to cope.
The average waiting time for a referral has risen from 32 days to 40 – a scandalous delay when so many need urgent support.
Anne Longfield, the former Children’s Commissioner for England, calls for a windfall tax on social media firms to fund mental health services. Her suggestion deserves serious consideration.
What is clear is the money must be raised somehow, or we will fail a whole generation.
Rinse Andrew
Prince Andrew is considering doing another prime-time television interview.
Given how well his appearance on Newsnight went, he may want to learn how to sweat.
