Staff are 'boiling with anger' at Lineker's disdain for rules they obey as he ... trends now

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Gary Lineker's future at the BBC was hanging in the balance last night.

The corporation's news staff were said to be 'boiling' with anger that the Match of the Day host's anti-Tory tweets flout strict impartiality rules that they have to obey.

BBC bosses are wrestling with what to do about Lineker – their highest-paid star on £1.35 million a year – after he doubled down on remarks that likened the migrant crackdown to Nazi Germany. 

But amid calls for him to be sacked, Lineker defiantly resumed tweeting about the politically charged topic.

He told his Twitter followers yesterday that he had never known such 'love and support' and said he would 'continue to try and speak up'. 

BBC sources say Lineker will be rebuked over his latest remarks – but the corporation refused to make any new statement yesterday.

Director-general Tim Davie chose his words carefully when asked about the controversy, saying: 'The BBC absolutely puts the highest value on impartiality and that's clearly important to us.'

The row erupted on Tuesday after Lineker shared a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman outlining the Illegal Migration Bill, and wrote next to it: 'Good heavens, this is beyond awful.' 

The former England footballer went on to accuse Mrs Braverman of promoting an 'immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s'.

Lineker's remarks triggered a wave of criticism from Tories and even BBC staff.

As the corporation's bosses dithered over how to respond, there were claims from Conservative MPs that they were 'sticking their head in the sand' over the row.

Downing Street described Lineker's criticism as 'not acceptable' and 'disappointing', while Mrs Braverman said his comments were 'irresponsible'.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick, whose wife's parents were Holocaust survivors, said the presenter was 'so far out of step with the British public' and should be 'shown a red card'.