BBC Journalist says Lineker's asylum policy tweets 'cause difficulty' for Beeb trends now
BBC's culture and media editor said it was 'an understatement' to say Gary Lineker's asylum policy tweets 'cause difficulty' for the Beeb.
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Katie Razzall said while Lineker is a sports presenter tweeting on his personal Twitter account, if a news presenter commented, about the government's asylum policies like Lineker has done, 'they would at the very least receive a very serious warning'.
She continued: 'Lineker, as somebody associated with sport for the BBC, and who argues he is a freelancer, is in a different position.
'"I try to be sensible," he told Radio 4's Media Show in 2021, saying that as a freelancer he's "considerate" to his employers when it comes to what he tweets.
'He added that the BBC rules "only apply to people in news and current affairs".'
Razzall said that the BBC was the UK's 'most scrutinised media organisation in increasingly polarised times', with director general Tim Davie having made impartiality a key element of his leadership.
Gary Lineker (pictured), who earns £1.35million a year from the licence fee payer, has attracted the wrath of his bosses for his divisive comments
Katie Razzall (pictured) said that the BBC was the UK's 'most scrutinised media organisation in increasingly polarised times', with director general Tim Davie having made impartiality a key element of his leadership
She said: 'Trust in the corporation is at the heart of this. It matters if the public believes its public service broadcaster doesn't represent their views, or that the BBC is shaped by a particular perspective.'
She said there was a bit difference between impartiality that staff and on-air talent who work in news were bound by and 'due' impartiality, which the BBC was committed to achieving across its outputs.
Simply speaking, this means that while news should be giving objectively, 'if someone says the earth is round, the BBC does not give equal weight to someone else who claims the earth is flat', Ms Razzall said.
She said while the BBC's sports and news teams are distinct from one another, for audiences that distinction can be less clear, as they consider someone who is on the BBC as working for the BBC, like Lineker.
The culture and media editor said: 'The BBC is in a difficult position. They say a "frank" conversation is being had with Lineker. But in the end, what are the options?
'With some Conservative MPs calling for him to be sacked, not for the first time, the pressure is mounting.'.
The BBC's corporation's highest paid star, who earns £1.35million a year from the licence fee payer, has attracted the wrath of his bosses for his divisive comments but is not responding to calls from them about the issue, the i reported.
Today Downing Street called his intervention 'not acceptable' and 'disappointing', while Tory MPs have lined up to criticise the flagrant breach of BBC impartiality rules.
Labour has also condemned the comments, with Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman saying comparisons with the Nazis 'aren't always the best way to make' an argument.
The BBC has said it expects to have a 'frank conversation' with the presenter over his comments about the UK's asylum plan as critics demanded he gets the sack for the latest in a long series of impartiality breaches.
Downing Street has called his intervention 'not acceptable' and 'disappointing', while Tory MPs have lined up to criticise the flagrant breach of BBC impartiality rules
Criticising Lineker, Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said on Twitter: 'As a Jewish Cabinet minister I need no lessons about 1930s Germany from @GaryLineker.
'Like Gary, I am hosting refugees in my own home, but unlike Gary, I do not believe it is either right or moral to tolerate criminal gangs trafficking vulnerable people across the Channel.'
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. It's time to tackle this woke crisp salesman and hold him to account for the nonsense he spews.'
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 out of step with the British public.'
In a defiant message to his 8.7million Twitter followers, Lineker said: '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'.
The BBC said earlier today that Lineker would be 'spoken to' and 'reminded of his responsibilities'.
But Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative MP for South Thanet, said the comments were a 'step too far' and that the BBC must sack the presenter.
Lineker today thanked his supporters after his tweet slamming the Government's plan to crackdown on migrant crossings
Lineker 'crossed a line' by comparing Suella Braverman's migrant plan 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
Jonathan Gullis, the Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, asked the public service broadcaster to 'stand up' to the outspoken presenter and 'remind him his job is to talk football, not politics'.
