DOWNING Street has said that Gary Lineker’s criticism of the UK Government’s asylum policy is “unacceptable”.
The ex-footballer and BBC presenter slammed a video posted by the Home Office on social media on Tuesday, which featured Home Secretary Suella Braverman announcing that immigrants that come to the country via small boats would be detained and sent back to their home countries.
Braverman claimed that those who came to the UK on small boats were “jumping the queue” and gaming the system.
In a tweet, Lineker said that the policy was “immeasurably cruel” and compared it to policies used by the Nazis in Germany during the 1930s.
Now, a spokesperson for Downing Street has said that Lineker’s comments were “unacceptable and disappointing to see”.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters: “It’s obviously disappointing to see someone whose salary is funded by hard-working British [licence fee] payers using that kind of rhetoric and seemingly dismissing their legitimate concerns that they have about small boat crossings and illegal migration.
“But beyond that, it’s up to the BBC, who I think have said today that they’ll be having a conversation with Gary Lineker and it’s not for me to comment further.”
The BBC has said that its expects Lineker will be “spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities” as a broadcaster.
I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly). I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot. I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all. 👊🏻
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 8, 2023
However, Lineker went on to thank his followers for their “love and support” and added that he would continue to speak up for migrants.
He tweeted: “I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly).
“I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice.”
