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Gary Lineker hits out at ‘freedom of speech champions’ amid news of ‘talking-to’ by BBC after comparing UK asylum policy to Nazi Germany-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro
The BBC said the pundit would be ‘reminded of his responsibilities’.
The BBC said the pundit would be ‘reminded of his responsibilities’ (Picture: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Gary Lineker has spoken out after the news that he’s to have a ‘talking to’ by the BBC after he appeared to compare the UK government’s asylum policy to the rule of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
On Tuesday March 7, the government announced what it described as ‘ground-breaking new laws to stop the boats’, in an effort to prevent people from entering the UK illegally.
The plans would effectively stop anyone from claiming asylum in the UK if they entered the country illegally, with home secretary Suella Braverman stating: ‘If you come here illegally, you won’t be able to claim asylum or build a life here.’
Pundit Lineker responded to a video posted online of Braverman speaking about the policy, remarking: ‘Good heavens, this is beyond awful.’
He then added in response to a critic: ‘There is no huge influx. 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?’
Following criticism from Tory politicians, including Braverman, a BBC spokesperson has said that Lineker will be spoken to and ‘reminded of his responsibilities’.
The 62-year-old first spoke out in a tweet published this morning in a nonchalant manner, stating: ‘Morning all. Anything going on?’
He then followed up by calling out ‘freedom of speech champions’, who he claimed didn’t want to hear the opinions of people who didn’t share their views.
‘Great to see the freedom of speech champions out in force this morning demanding silence from those with whom they disagree. 👊🏻,’ he wrote.
More to follow.
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