Gary Lineker is not the only BBC personality to have expressed strong political views.
Ahead of the last election, The Apprentice’s Lord Sugar was a vocal supporter of Boris Johnson.
It is also worth noting that the BBC chairman Richard Sharp was a Tory donor before his appointment and, more recently, helped Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 loan guarantee.
Right-wing MPs demanding Lineker’s sacking would have more credence if they were also critical of others who have tested the limits of BBC impartiality.
Their confected outrage at Lineker is because he has dared to question the Government’s lack of humanity.
His comparison with 1930s Germany may have been ill-judged but his views flow from a genuine sense of compassion.
Right-wing populists cannot claim free speech is under threat one moment and then seek to harass and silence anyone who does not share their bigoted views at the next.
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Costs tot up
One of Rishi Sunak’s first acts as Prime Minister was to scrap plans to help parents with the cost of childcare.
And there was no mention of childcare when Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement.
The Tories clearly have a blind spot when it comes to helping parents.
A survey today found only half of areas in England have sufficient childcare for under twos and a third of places cannot provide the 30 hours of free childcare meant to be available for three and four year olds.
Without better support, parents, particularly women, cannot work the hours they need.
The lack of affordable childcare is holding both parents and the country back.
It drives us wild
The 500-mile North Coast route in Scotland has been judged Britain’s best drive.
Who needs Route 66 when you’ve got the North Coast 500?
