Gary Lineker laughs off Nazi jibe as MPs demand BBC sack him trends now
Gary Lineker has broken his silence on his row with Suella Braverman over the Tory migrant boats crackdown with a tongue-in-cheek tweet about his BBC career being in jeopardy.
The corporation's highest-paid star, who earns £1.35million a year from the licence fee payer, has compared the Government's Illegal Migration Bill to the policies in 1930s Nazi Germany.
As critics including MPs demanded that he is finally sacked for the 'crass' comparison and a blatant impartiality breach, Mr Lineker sent the trolling tweet: 'Morning all. Anything going on?' He added sarcastically: 'Great to see the freedom of speech champions out in force this morning demanding silence from those with whom they disagree'.
His post came hours after Suella Braverman publicly slapped him down, calling his comments 'disappointing' and inviting him to visit the people of Dover and Kent to speak to them about the crisis.
Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson told MailOnline: 'Yet again Gary Lineker has been allowed to kick about vile and baseless accusations, and the public are sick to the back teeth of it. Its time to tackle this woke crisp salesman and hold him to account for the nonsense he spews. The BBC need to get a grip and finally show these people the red card'.
Tory MP Michael Fabricant said : 'Lineker's ignorant "Nazi" comments have not only upset MPs – many in the Jewish community think it's crass while other broadcasters ask, "Why is Lineker allowed to get away with it?" I do too.'
This is Gary Lineker's response to the outcry over his comments on Tory policy on migrants arriving illegally in Britain by boat
Gary Lineker 'crossed a line' by comparing Suella Braverman's migrant crackdown to Nazi Germany, BBC sources said last night. There are calls for him to be sacked
The corporation's highest-paid star, who is on £1.35million a year, will be rebuked by bosses for attacking the Home Secretary's plans to 'stop the boats'. Suella Braverman told BBC Breakfast today that Gary Lineker's comments were disappointing
The Home Secretary today said she felt that Lineker's comments were 'disappointing'. She told BBC Breakfast: 'I think it's unhelpful to compare our measures, which are lawful, proportionate and – indeed – compassionate, to 1930s Germany'.
Asked if he should resign or be sacked, she said: 'That's a matter for the BBC and they will resolve that.' She invited Lineker to visit Kent to 'see what the communities in Kent and Dover and actually all around the UK are feeling about this issue'.
The Match of the Day host has been repeatedly told off by the BBC for his often Left-wing tweets. In October last year he was found to have broken impartiality rules after criticising the Tories and Liz Truss – and has been warned several times about his comments on the Government and Brexit.
'The BBC should disassociate themselves from these types of comments and ask themselves the question: "Is this the type of comment they expect from their publicly funded presenters?"
'Instead of lecturing, Mr Lineker should stick to reading out the football scores and flogging crisps. This is just another example of how out of touch these overpaid stars are with the voting public'.
Former minister Robert Jenrick said: 'My children are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, and I think those sorts of words should not be thrown around lightly. Gary Lineker is paid for by the British taxpayer. And it's disappointing that he is so far
