MATCH of the Day host Gary Lineker will be “spoken to” after sending out a tweet which compared the UK Government’s asylum policy with “Germany in the 30s”.
Lineker initially responded to a Home Office video of Suella Braverman explaining the new legislation with the caption: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Amnesty International has already warned that the plans are a “recipe for more injustice”.
The new legislation will see a duty placed on the Home Secretary to remove, “as soon as reasonably practicable”, anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a “safe third country”.
Following his initial tweet, Lineker responded to a user who said that he was “out of order”, writing: “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 30s, and I’m out of order?”
Good heavens, this is beyond awful. https://t.co/f0fTgWXBwp
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023
It is not clear which language the ex-footballer was referring to in particular although Braverman’s video did include the words “enough is enough” and “we must stop the boats”.
Conservative Party deputy chairman and recently announced GB news presenter Lee Anderson said Lineker was “out of touch” and that he should stick to football.
Asked about the comments by the BBC, Braverman said: “I’m disappointed, obviously. I think it’s unhelpful to compare our measures, which are lawful, proportionate and – indeed – compassionate, to 1930s Germany.
“I also think we are on the side of the British people here. It’s plain for anyone to see that the British people have had enough of this situation of thousands of people coming here illegally at huge cost to the taxpayer and undermining our laws, and, in fact, British generosity.”
Lineker was previously criticised by senior Tory Michelle Donelan over his views on the Qatar World Cup.
Another Conservative MP, Craig Mackinlay, said Lineker’s comments were “foul, ill-conceived and disgraceful” and called on the BBC to sack him.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “The BBC has social media guidance, which is published. Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media.
“We have appropriate internal processes in place if required. We would expect Gary to be spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities.”
The corporation has also responded to previous criticism of the presenter by highlighting he is not involved in its news or political output and is a freelance broadcaster rather than a member of staff.
