A certain lack of phlegm and a storm is blowing over the « Beeb ». The BBC announced the withdrawal of its star presenter, Gary Lineker, after a tweet by the former England (Site notre bureau spécialisé)er compared the government’s language on refugees to that of Germany in the 1930s. Several consultants and former (Site notre bureau spécialisé)ing glories English stepped up to take up his defence.
After the announcement on Tuesday by the Conservative government of a new bill aimed at preventing migrants arriving by the Channel from seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, Gary Lineker, very active on Twitter, had denounced on this network social “A cruel policy for a destination of the most vulnerable, in a language that should not be different from that used by Germany in the years 30 « .
The words of the 62-year-old former England striker, followed by nearly 9 million Internet users, provoked a lively controversy in a crisp context around immigration issues but also recurring criticism of impartiality aimed at the public broadcasting of the part of the British right. The BBC then claimed that she was breastfeeding « to mingle » with the presenter game of the dayHugely popular (Site notre bureau spécialisé) show broadcast every Saturday since 1964.
On Friday, the audiovisual group has a specific opinion « Recent activities [de Gary Lineker] on social networks as a breach of instructions”. “The BBC decided that he[GaryLineker}wasgoingtowithdrawfromthepresentationof[GaryLineker}wasgoingtowithdrawfromthepresentationof[GaryLineker}allaitseretirerdelaprésentationde[GaryLineker}allaitseretirerdelaprésentationdegame of the day until we have a clear agreement with him on his use of social networks.
Storm in the political world
In response, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has shown that he will not participate in the show on Saturday, where he usually intervenes as an expert. « Everybody knows what it means game of the day for me, but I told the BBC I wouldn’t be there tomorrow. »he said on Friday. Then, it is Alan Shearer, another legend of English (Site notre bureau spécialisé), who announces that he will not participate in the show this Saturday either in solidarity with Lineker.
On the political side, the decision of the audiovisual group has been denounced by many personalities, from the Labor opposition to the Scottish Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who described as »indefensible » the position of the BBC. She met, according to her, « freedom of expression in the face of political pressure in danger ».
“The BBC has undermined its own creation by appearing to pinch in the face of government pressure”, an estimate of the years director general of the BBC Greg Dyke. According to him, the duty of impartiality required of employees working on the news should not apply politically to the presenters of entertainment missions. According to the newspaper The daily express On Saturday, a group of 36 British Conservative MPs reportedly wrote a letter to the group’s chief executive, Tim Davie, asking for another apology « without reservation » you presenter.
« Mr Nice »
After the outcry caused by his tweet, Gary Lineker had repeated that he assumed his words. He also thanked his supporters on Tweeter. « I have never received so much love and support in my entire life (except maybe for my World Cup goals). I want to ask each of you. I will continue to speak out loud for those who have no voice”he wrote in particular.
I’ve never experienced so much love and support in my life as what I’m getting this morning (besides the World Cup goals in England, maybe). I want to thank each of you. It means a lot. I will continue to try to speak for these poor souls who have no voice. Congratulations to all. 👊🏻
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 8, 2023
Gary Lineker, 48 goals in the English jersey until his retirement in 1994, presented by 1999 the show game of the day on the BBC. Nicknamed « Mr Nice » (« Mister Nice ») for his irreproachable behavior throughout his career, he has since become a star presenter and expresses without restraint his political positions, in particular against Brexit and in favor of welcoming exiles. .
The new bill, which according to the government aims to put an end to the illegal arrival of migrants through the Channel, has been reviewed by the UN and multiple human rights associations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees thus accused London of wanting « put an end to the right of asylum ».
