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Gary Lineker outside his home in London this morning following reports the BBC is to have a 'frank conversation' with the presenter. PA

DUP MP calls out ‘lefty Lineker’ as the MOTD presenter stands by criticism of UK government

DUP MP Gregory Campbell called for ‘lefty Lineker’ to face a salary reduction after he criticised the UK Government’s immigration policy.

A DUP MP has hit out at “lefty Lineker” as the Match of the Day presenter continues to stand by his criticism of the UK government’s immigration policy.

Gary Lineker told reporters outside his London home this morning that he does not fear suspension by the BBC.

Lineker has faced criticism from members of the Tory party after comparing the language used to launch the immigration policy with 1930s Germany.

He accused the UK Home Secretary Suella 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”.

Announcing the plans in the Commons earlier this week, Braverman said asylum seekers arriving illegally in the UK will be detained without bail or judicial review for 28 days before being “swiftly removed” to their home country or a “safe third country” such as Rwanda.

They face a lifetime ban on returning once deported and will never be allowed to settle in the country or gain citizenship.

Responding to a message on Twitter, Linker said: “There is no huge influx [in asylum seekers]. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”

Speaking outside his home this morning, Lineker was asked “do you stand by what you said in your tweet?” to which he replied “course”.

When asked “do you fear getting suspended?”, Lineker told reporters “no”.

A BBC source previously told the PA news agency the corporation was taking the matter “seriously” and expects to have a “frank conversation” with Lineker.

Speaking in the Commons earlier today, UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said it was important for the BBC to maintain impartiality if it is to “retain the trust of the public who pay the licence fee”.

She added: “As somebody whose grandmother escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s, I think it’s really disappointing and inappropriate to compare government policy on immigration to events in Germany in the 1930s.”

DUP MP for East Derry Gregory Campbell later called for “lefty Lineker” to face a salary reduction.

Last year he was named as the BBC’s top earning on-air talent for the fifth consecutive year, and was paid between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year.

Campbell told the Commons: “Will she (UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer) meet again with the director general to ensure that the BBC reviews the contracts of well-known multimillionaire lefty (Gary) Lineker, who presents himself as a sports presenter with very scandalous views about Government policy.

“And decide whether he is a sports presenter or a political pundit and whether he should be paid about £1.3 million less than he currently is from the public purse?”

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer replied: “I think I made my views on this subject clear. The BBC has a ten-point plan in relation to impartiality, but it is absolutely important that it maintains impartiality so that the public retains trust in it.”

BBC director-general Tim Davie warned staff about their use of social media when he took on the role at the end of 2020, and guidelines around social media use have since been updated.

Staff were told they needed to follow editorial guidelines and editorial oversight in the same way as when doing BBC content.

Lineker is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, not a permanent member of staff, and is not responsible for news or political content so does not need to adhere to the same rules on impartiality.

A representative for Lineker declined to comment further.

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38 Comments
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    Mute John Fagan
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:45 AM

    If the DUP are criticising you then you know you are doing something right.

    962
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    Mute A Well Known Comical Stereotype
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:33 AM

    Gary Lineker – my new favourite English footballer.

    598
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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:39 PM

    @A Well Known Comical Stereotype: Thought the DUP were very busy looking through the Windsor Framework Agreement. Obviously not.

    247
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    Mute Darren Lynch
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    Mar 9th 2023, 2:37 PM

    @A Well Known Comical Stereotype: na, he scored against us in the 1990 world cup. Cant forgive him!!!

    11
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    Mute Bri Lyons
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:57 AM

    Pity the DUPs ancestors didn’t follow their own anti immigrant stance and not cross on boats to Ireland

    669
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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:42 AM

    Easy for the DUP to call him a lefty. Attila, the Hun is left of the DUP thinking.

    He’s on a free salary for not adhering to democratic principles and forming an Assembly.

    382
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    Mute SquideyeMagpie
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:34 AM

    Wasn’t sure but now I know he was right

    365
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    Mute Michael Garvey
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:41 AM

    @SquideyeMagpie: yup. Good old Gregory. Scandalous apparently to treat people in dire circumstances with basic compassion.

    256
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:14 PM

    The Tory Party and the BBC had no problem when Lineker criticised the Human rights record of Qatar which hosted the World Cup. Lineker now faces the Director General of the BBC Douglas Davie who was politically appointed by the Tory Party as he was a major financial donor to the Conservative Party. Seems free speech is a one way street at the BBB and the Tory government. Well done Gary Lineker.

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    Mute ConPhoto
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:44 AM

    something is wrong somewhere if a football pundit’s comment about an issue, is getting more coverage and reaction than that of the actual issue.
    Bear in mind the issue involves men, women and children’s lives.

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    Mute Owen G Mc Ginley
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:13 PM

    I suppose the DUP will now add this demand of a Salary reduction for Lineker, as the 8th test to be met for accepting the new Windsor Protocol Agreement

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Mar 9th 2023, 2:00 PM

    @Owen G Mc Ginley: They are complaining about Lineker and his salary and the same person sits on his … and receives a salary for doing nothing! Unbelievable the way they preach what about, “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you”?

    On the other sides, does this mean that the DUP will be moving back to Scotland via Rwanda?

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Mar 9th 2023, 6:45 PM

    @Owen G Mc Ginley: At lest Gary Lineker goes to work, unlike the DUP who refuses.

    41
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    Mute Brian Boru
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:37 AM

    It’s not often I agree with the DUP!

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:43 AM

    @Brian Boru: Well says a lot about you!

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    Mute Ciaran Forde
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    Mar 9th 2023, 2:06 PM

    @Brian Boru: another boring comment from Brian Boru.

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    Mute Brian Boru
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    Mar 9th 2023, 4:38 PM

    @Ciaran Forde: You want everyone to have the same opinion, how boring is that.

    15
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    Mute JustBEERbarry
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:37 AM

    Imagine the dup aren’t happy with something or someone. SEACHT

    159
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    Mute A$AP ETH
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:49 PM

    Showing any bit of empathy these days is dismissed as ‘lefty’ behaviour. Sad.

    116
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    Mute Karl Phillips
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:38 PM

    The DUP, squatters in another country. We are getting very near the F word folks.

    135
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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:51 PM

    DUP and Braverman two of a kind!!!

    95
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    Mute Eugene O Doherty
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:58 PM

    @Leonard Barry: agree, immigrants to another country

    70
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    Mute John Mcmahon
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    Mar 9th 2023, 1:34 PM

    Always liked Gary Lineker being a Spurs fan
    But like him more now
    A nice human being

    81
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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:53 AM

    Champaign communist if ever, some might say. Not I, as I couldn’t care less about this milky minded individual locked tight within his guilded cage far away from reality of the normal hardworking joe.

    92
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    Mute Tom Hogarty
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:25 PM

    @Keth Warsaw: what would it take for you to care less enough to hold off on the inane, uninteresting, bland and negative comments?

    136
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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Mar 9th 2023, 1:35 PM

    @Tom Hogarty: I think calling my comments inane and uninteresting are a tad strong. Same comments grabbed your attention. As for negativity…I’d rather reflect the realities of life and build upon sound ground than be an idealistic dreamer building upon Sand. But I thank you for your interest in my bland comments.

    27
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    Mute Calvin James
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:01 PM

    Waiting patiently for the free speech brigade to rally behind Gary

    48
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:14 PM

    @Calvin James: you mean the free speech brigade who are trying to tell him to shut up because they don’t agree with him?

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    Mute Jen Mc
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:26 PM

    @Calvin James: I think you’re confused as to who the free speech brigade are pal.

    55
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    Mute A Well Known Comical Stereotype
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:45 PM

    The Tory “Stop the boats” slogan and the associated BS are carbon copies of the trick used in Australia by the Aussie Tories. Braverman’s “We will decide who comes to this country” is exactly what John Howard said. The attacks on Labour along the lines of ‘you won’t protect our borders’ is the same. It won a few elections for the Aussie Tories. I think this won’t be enough to save them in the next election but it might. It is outrageous.

    53
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:37 AM

    For a nano second i thought there might be something worth reporting here / something something the DUP / Immigration policies in the UK / Christ how lazy / bad are Irish media becoming / it’s not like there aren’t an enormous amount of very important issues facing Ireland daily / this is just lazy / go thru the motions posting of UK click bait nonsense

    66
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Mar 9th 2023, 11:46 AM

    @Dave Hammond: Welcome, in case you’re wondering the toilet is all around you.

    23
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Mar 9th 2023, 12:58 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: cheers it’s the exit doors I’m looking for …

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    Mute A$AP ETH
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    Mar 9th 2023, 1:42 PM

    @Dave Hammond: tell you what, exit doors are on the way out.

    8
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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Mar 9th 2023, 1:49 PM

    If he was an intellectual, I might take his comments seriously, and reflect upon them. But this is a former footballer who advertised crisps.

    24
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    Mute Dick Barrett
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    Mar 9th 2023, 2:15 PM

    I would say that as Gary Lineker is a BBC sports and not a news commentator, he can say what he likes about other matters, even if what he says is a bit OTT like in this instance.

    13
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    Mute Liam
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    Mar 9th 2023, 5:37 PM

    The DUP should help sprinkle the football pitches for the weekend matches with their tears.

    10
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    Mute Michael Powell
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    Mar 9th 2023, 3:24 PM

    It will be interesting to see just how Foxy BBC is prepared to be about this.

    7
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