They also argue his platform comes via his BBC work, and so he should follow its rules. On top of that, he works on BBC's Sport output, away from the inevitably more sensitive news operation.īut critics point to the £1.35m he was paid by the BBC in 2021/22, a sum which makes him the highest paid presenter whose salary must be disclosed (although this does not include famous faces who are employed via private production firms). Lineker has previously argued he can impart his opinion because he is a freelancer. Responding to critics of his comments, he said he would "continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice".įor its part, the BBC said that when it came to leading its football and sports coverage, Lineker was "second to none".īut it said: "We consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines" - and "he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies". This week Lineker caused a row with a tweet commenting that the government's new Illegal Migration Bill was an "immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". "I'll continue to tweet what I like and if folk disagree with me then so be it," he wrote. The presenter is the face of Match of the Day and the FA CupĪ tweet aimed at Jonathan Agnew, a BBC cricket host who had criticised his 2018 political posts, summed up his approach. In 2018, Lineker posted a thread of tweets as Conservatives held a no-confidence vote in Theresa May, who was then prime minister, and indirectly criticised Labour's leader at the time, Jeremy Corbyn. The incident led to the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) upholding a complaint and concluding that, as "one of the BBC's highest-profile stars", he did not meet the corporation's editorial standards on impartiality. He asked: "And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?" In 2022, he posted a story on Twitter about then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urging a boycott of the Champions League final in Russia. The corporation is committed to impartiality, meaning staff and stars are expected to follow guidance on expressing political opinions in the BBC's output and on social media.īut Lineker, who is technically a freelancer rather than a BBC employee, has not always bitten his tongue. His outspoken positions on divisive issues have earned him criticism and plaudits in equal measures - and, on occasion, caused BBC bosses a headache. Match of the Day to air with no presenters or pundits One of the broadcaster's highest-paid presenters, Lineker is viewed by many as one of the faces of the BBC - and he has not shied from using his high profile to express his political views.
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