The Foreign Secretary has suggested Gary Lineker needs to study the “history books” after he compared language used in the Government’s new asylum policy to Thirties Germany.
The Match of the Day host sparked an impartiality row when he made the comments but has insisted he does not regret them — and is “looking forward to presenting” the show tomorrow.
This morning, James Cleverly was asked by LBC host Nick Ferrari for his response to critics of the policy, including Lineker who said it was “immeasurably cruel”.
Mr Cleverly replied: “There are some people desperate to gain attention by using deeply offensive and inappropriate language about this and I would gently suggest they use their history books a little bit more carefully.”
Lineker prompted the row when he responded to a Government video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the Government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats.
'The UK is a welcoming and hospitable country.'
— LBC (@LBC) March 10, 2023
@JamesCleverly tells @NickFerrariLBC that the UK's migration laws are no longer 'fit for purpose', stressing the importance of 'defending and protecting' the UK's borders. pic.twitter.com/RVtmikMD0W
In it, she said the UK was being “overwhelmed” and stricter rules needed to be put in place.
The ex-England striker wrote: “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 Thirties.”
Several Conservative MPs have criticised Lineker’s words, while his employer the BBC said it was taking the matter “seriously” and expects to have a “frank conversation” with the pundit.
Commons leader Penny Mordaunt accused Labour of “borrowing from the Gary Lineker play-book” by being the “party of goal hangers” taking easy shots against the Government.
However, the former England striker hit back at her “clumsy analogy”, saying he was “just happy to have been better in the six-yard box than you are at the dispatch box”.
Last year the former England footballer was named as the BBC’s top-earning on-air talent for the fifth consecutive year, and was paid between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year.
Support for the pundit has come from Piers Morgan and Sky News commentator Adam Boulton.
Lineker has suggested he didn’t believe the BBC would suspend him.
He is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, not a permanent member of staff, and is not responsible for news or political content so does not need to adhere to the same impartiality rules.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, the star said “no” when asked if he fears suspension over his tweets. Asked if he regretted his tweet, he responded “no”.
