The suspension of Gary Lineker from his BBC presenting duties has echoes of “Putin’s Russia”, MPs have heard, as calls for the corporation’s chair to resign continue to mount.
Labour’s Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, made the comments in parliament after she was granted an urgent question on the government’s role in upholding impartiality on the BBC.
It came after controversy over remarks Lineker made on Twitter criticising the government’s migration policy and likening ministers’ language to “that used by Germany in the 30s”.
The BBC suspended Lineker from his Match of the Day presenting duties, triggering a mass walkout of BBC sport staff, pundits and commentators, before reinstating him three days later.
The row has focused the spotlight on the BBC’s relationship with the Conservative government, in particular through the BBC chair, Richard Sharp, a Conservative donor who has come under fire for his role in facilitating a loan to Boris Johnson, who appointed him to the role.
Addressing the minister Julia Lopez in the Commons, Powell said: “What does she think it looks like to the outside world that a much-loved sports presenter is taken off air for tweeting something the government doesn’t like? It sounds more like Putin’s Russia to me.”
She added: “Her government has pursued a deliberate strategy of undermining the BBC to keep it over a barrel to get themselves more coverage.
“It was on full display overnight and I’m sure it will be on full display here today. Threaten the licence fee, cut its funding, undermine its credibility. All in pursuit in keeping their foot on the BBC’s throat.”
She added: “This week’s whole sorry saga has raised serious questions about the government’s role in upholding BBC impartiality. They’ve got their fingerprints all over it.”
Lopez later called Powell’s comparison to Putin’s Russia “disgraceful” and repeatedly said there was “no pressure applied to the BBC by ministers” over Lineker.
Numerous Labour MPs lined up to call for Sharp’s resignation. Lopez responded by arguing “previous governments have appointed people to senior positions in the BBC who have declared political activity”.
“That is not prohibited under the rules,” she added.
Powell asked what contact the government had with BBC executives and board members during the period, and asked Lopez to “finally call off the dogs behind her and stand up for the BBC’s independence from government”.
She told MPs: “The government has seriously damaged the BBC’s reputation by appointing a chair embroiled in the personal finances of the prime minister who gave him the job.”
She added: “Her boss is the only person with any power to fire the BBC chair. Does she agree that he is now completely unable to carry out his role of providing confidence, credibility and independence?”
Lopez said the government had “consistently made clear” it was for the BBC to resolve the issue with Lineker and said she refused to give her view of the case.
She added: “At no time has any of us as ministers sought to influence the BBC’s decision in this case in any way. The events of the last week are rightly a matter for the corporation.
“In response to assertions that he bowed to political pressure from the government, yesterday the director general, Tim Davie, said that is a convenient narrative but it’s not true.”
Announcing Lineker’s return, the BBC’s Davie also announced an independent review of the corporation’s social media guidelines.
