To carry on applauding Gary Lineker....2 - hoping to see BBC bosses heads roll.

[Nimbostratus100]

Because he was speaking the truth and he is entitled to, without being censored.

I am delighted to see the number of other sports commentators supporting him.

Now lets see Davie resign

I could live with this.

this dispute has nothing to do with open borders

this tweet had nothing to do with open borders

noone on this thread has said anything at all about open borders

You seem to be on the wrong thread, because this is not what the conversation is about

Just here to say if anyone wants to understand the use of language under Nazi Germany and Weimar years, then read Victor Klemperers diaries

He wrote a book called The Language of The Third Reich, too. Absolutely about the point GL made - that language absolutely matters in creating our thinking and tolerances.

sitsixoclockalready
For anyone who understands exactly what was written (rather than the faux outrage over what he Lineker didn't actually write) and can see straight through all this Tory driven 'impartiality' b...s - this video is bang on:

Somewhat hypocritical (of you and) the man in your video clip to go on about what Gary Lineker actually tweeted and then criticise Suella Braverman for a word she didn't actually use;

"She may not have used the 'swarm' but she may as well as done'

That's not exactly what she said though.

Fine. So should Alan Sugar have done then. For expressing political views.
Except he didn’t face any consequences.

So is it only people who express views criticising the government that have to face consequences? Be careful what you say then.

Its awesome

ive just read it out to ds1 and dh

You're quite possibly delusional.

I hope to goodness that excuse for a man never stands for election again. He's a liar who has lied again and again and again. He's should be nowhere near the highest political office in this country.

You can disagree with the comments made by Gary Lineker, indeed you can be one of the few people who agree with the government proposals, and still believe he should remain as Match of the Day presenter. Recognising that a sports presenter should be able to express personal views labelled as such, said away from a tv screen.

My understanding of the law on discrimination is that is unlawful to sanction or punish an employee for alleging racism or other forms of discrimination covered under Equalities Act 2010 and other relevant legislation. Which essentially other than the technicality that Gary Lineker is not a BBC employee is what the BBC have don.

100% this.

"I hope to goodness that excuse for a man never stands for election again. He's a liar who has lied again and again and again. He's should be nowhere near the highest political office in this country."

You disagree with Lord Sugar? How very dare you.

It was David Cameron that used the word swarm. Obviously his track record shows he is unimpeachable.

you are missing the point, @Notonthestairs is quoting Alan Sugar, to demonstrate that the BBC is fine with its presenters going on social media to support Tories, but not to speak out against them

My bad - I've read the comments of others who haven't been castigated in the way GL has and the Beeb's hypocrisy is awful.

The issue they have is that he's their highest paid presenter with a large SM presence and they've caved to govt pressure.

Alan Sugar is not a BBC presenter in the same way GL is, so not a good comparison, despite Piers Morgan’s attempts to put them in the same category.

In context, if a Radio 2 presenter had commented in recent weeks about Greatest Hits radio, they would expect to have some backlash from a contract pov…oh and look, none of them did comment, because they know what a great gig they’ve got with the BBC and they’re abiding by contract terms. I use them as an example because historically and currently it’s where the highest earning BBC presenters work, in addition to the v.well paid sports pundits and news presenters.

My money is on GL joining another broadcaster very soon, let’s see if he can continue to ‘speak up for those that can’t’ when tied to a commercial (brand) contract🤣 he really isn’t a hero, just ask his agent how much a hero could be sued for brand damage back in the real world…

@QueenCamilla absolutely this.

"Alan Sugar is not a BBC presenter in the same way GL is,"

That's your opinion. It's not a fact.

Or he’s using his position of wealth and influence to actually stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.

If you or I call the government out, maybe 10 people will listen. If someone with influence calls them out hundreds of thousands will listen. He’s rich enough already that if the BBC sack him over this he won’t be affected.

Well done Gary for calling out the atrocities our government is pushing through.

www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/11/gary-lineker-was-singled-out-from-a-long-list-of-bbc-stars-who-express-political-views?fbclid=IwAR29GTLJOTiVSfmzDrlYD0lU4o9u9ijdpziVNmDwG4ZmK1JhZzsDbudcCtE

Just a few other BBC presenters who’ve aired political opinions (some horrendously offensive) who’ve not been penalised. Some employed directly, some who knows.

Radio 5 presenter Martin Lewis

“Martin Lewis, who has a weekly show on BBC Radio 5 Live, campaigns to change government policies, including most recently warning of an “act of national mental health harm” if energy bills were allowed to rise.”

Why has he not been singled out?

He’s rich enough already that if the BBC sack him over this he won’t be affected.

He’s rich enough from his BBC earnings, paid for by any of us who have a licence. I don’t pay my licence to have him represent me. I do pay my taxes for my MP to represent me and all the rest of us who can’t be heard. Indeed, if he goes elsewhere it will be for double the money he currently earns, no doubt, it’s a hard life being a sofa activist, isn’t it?

He's not representing you or the BBC - he's representing himself.

You pay him to front a sports program. Which he does.

Anything else he does, he does on his own time. As we all do.

So far none of the Tory apologists have been able to explain why it’s ok for Sugar to voice his pro-Tory opinion, but Lineker can’t voice the opposite.

Tells you everything you need to know.

What it tells me, is that it's a privilege (often wealth driven one) to see every single societal issue as a political debate food.
For the privileged it's not a practical, hard-reality issue that needs addressing, everything (apart from the height of their neighbours laurel-hedge) is an abstract, philosophical or political theorising.
Gender-theories and race theories running rampant. Political theories that are dug up from the "failed" pile to be chewed on by those shielded from the previous fails - because it still sounds good. In theory.

I care when those in power and those with a strong public voice use it to posture on issues that do not affect them. Which is of course, why Gary's posts were of a political Us vs. Them kind.
In Gary's own words "he gives a voice to the voiceless" - what a slap in the face of a migrant pleb like myself! Most migrants wouldn't choose the neighbours that the rich bestow on us. It's virtue signalling for them, it's hotel-rehab for drug addicted migrants as neighbours for me.

I don't care much who Lord Sugar or Gary votes for, I don't care what their views are on taxation for the rich...
I care when the privileged write letters and public pieces of opinion in "the name of the voiceless" when the voiceless and their very real lives are thrown under the bus in the process.

I am vehemently against Gary's stance, not pro-Tory.

BBC could have issued a statement along the lines of "we don't share the views and opinions voiced by our presenters outside of their working hours. And be done.

Liverpool are refusing to speak to the BBC before or after their match apparently. OH just said (I dont know about these things really)

Why does any difference of opinion from letting them all in and welcome the lot make anyone a tory apologist? Time to grow up. People can have differing views from yours without voting for a certain party. That's what debate is about.