To applaud Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, and think Suella Braverman is looking like a fool for not even understanding the comment

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Lineker called the immigration policy cruel, and compared the language and attitude of the government to 1930s Germany.

I hundred percent agree with him

Braverman started denying that anything that is happening in UK is comparable to the holocaust

She is spectacularly missing the point. The holocaust didn't happen in the 1930s

What happened in the 1930s was the slow and steady build up of racism and aggression and hate, that resulted in the holocaust in the 1940s

And the noises coming out of the government are very much like 1930s nazis

For those of you that don't have any interest in Match of the Day, Gary Lineker, the main presenter, has been suspended, in spite of being a sports commentator, and NOT a news reader or involved in current affairs programming, and NOT bound by the impartiality clause, and his two top fellow presenters have refused to appear without him

So either the BBC bosses (tory appointees) have scored a spectacular own goal,(unintended pun) in trying to supress Lineker's opinions, and turning them into world wide headlines,

OR!

Maybe they are secretly working against the government by choosing a course of action that will actually make the tories look like complete fools, while pretending to support them!

I think they have made a major mistake, ratings for Match of the Day will be similar without the host or pundits and they'll keep it this way. It's ridiculous that people are being paid millions by the BBC to talk about football anyway.

It'll be much better without that bunch of twats presenting it - it'll finally be watchable!

It’s nothing to do with football.

Are you saying you don’t care about one of the biggest policies of the current government of this country? Because that’s what he is speaking about.
10 cool points for you, hun.

Nothing about the BBC is impartial. Do you think if Gary L was of the opinion that we need to stop the boats he’d have had the same treatment?

Exactly @Clarabell77 If he had Tweeted his support for them, would this even be happening? No. Still not impartial. But no.

Possibly the one built entirely on immigration? I mean I might be wrong !

I'm not on Twitter, does anyone know if GL has had an increase (or decrease) in followers in the last couple of days?

Hes anything but dim, intelligent, inciteful and empathic ( great football pundit too ) ...He has every right to make political statements and lets be honest if one young person reads his tweets and becomes curious about the politcs in this country and others that has to be a good thing. The bbc are losing credibility at best and with this latest move are pushing us towards some horrendous Orwelian future. The Government backed BBC have been quick off the mark to sanction someone for a tweet, laughable when looking at how long it took them (the govt) to get rid of Boris Johnson for hypocrisy at best and breaking the law at worst.

I'll end this by saying, Im a huge football fan, Scottish too and even I forgive Lineker from his 1966 spattered reporting during world cups.

That does NOT apply to sports personalities

It is in the contract of news reporters and current affairs staff

I'm sure he has in the past? Did he not take in some refugees?

I think he has a right to express his views. He wasn't spouting off on MOTD.

However I am afraid that this situation is illustrative of a general lack of tolerance and an unwillingness (or inability) to understand nuance in today's society. GL did not compare this government to Nazis or compare their actions to the Holocaust. These are both emotive terms and tabloids like the DM like to stir things by using them.

This government are struggling in the polls, public services are shocking so it is easy to demonise one group of people. Especially if you know that those who are most affected by lack of housing or school places are seeing refugees getting those things. There is also the issue of differing cultural values.

As I said on another thread a half way decent immigration policy would help.

Things are not black and white and it really worries me that we as a society are becoming less tolerant and willing to listen to others who have a different opinion rather than engage in rational debate. That applies to both sides of the political divide.

He made his comment on his personal twitter account - he didn't make the comment on MOTD.

What other BBC employees have had their personal social media censored by the BBC?

That the chairman donated 400k speaks volumes and is a clear demonstration of impartiality.

I mean, I doubt they'll be crying into their bank accounts. They are all wealthy. The love the sport. They'll all be hired by ITV in the blink of an eye.

How far do you want to go in giving away our heritage?
Next you’ll be asking what the Romans have ever done for us.

Ooh gosh yes, what heroes. Overpaid talking heads. Glad to see the back of them. Always fast forward through their crap anyway. Sick of the BBC paying a fortune to them.

What other BBC employees have had their personal social media censored by the BBC?

Alan Sugar. Oh no, wait...

Agree 100% ... I dont always agree with their analysis, but that as a football fan is part of the joy.

Ah yes, the good old "Lebensraum" argument.

We know how that one ends, I think.

His followers are growing by the minute.

I agree that if Gary Lineker had tweeted his support of Suella Braverman or the current government in general absolutely nothing would have happened. I'm glad that his co presenters have backed him on this too.

When I listened to the News Agents podcast earlier, am pretty certain they stated he had 7 million followers. Having just checked, he now has 8.7million

It's not about agreeing or disagreeing with what Lineker says. It's whether someone employed by the BBC can make political comments. I guess if it's in his contract, then he can't. But if its not in his contract, and he has said in the past that he's allowed to say whatever he likes, then he can.

I'm assuming there is nothing in his contract about this because they've said he won't present MOTD while they "come to an agreement about social media use" which suggests he hasn't already agreed (by signing a contract) to anything regarding social media. Or if he has, it didn't cover what he's written now.

Hes anything but dim, intelligent, inciteful and empathic

Until it comes to women's rights and then he couldn't give a shit

👏 👏 👏

Agree 100%. Also Jewish.

Curry is the favourite dish of the Brits.
Love it.
Thank the stars for asian spice, black funk and soul, roman roads and baths and our beautiful, rich and diverse cultural heritage,
We are blessed.

Good for him! My mum also took in a few Ukrainian refugees back in the summer of last year. I have also personally helped one Iranian refugee who has been here for more than 10 years. But let's get real here, many people who hav are coming into the UK right now are not genuine refugees. I hate the Tories, but at least they are trying to do something to sort the issue out.