New Delhi: Former football star and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) sports host of the show Match of the Day Gary Lineker has been at the centre of controversy since Tuesday after he compared the United Kingdom’s recent Illegal migration Bill to policies used during the Holocaust in Germany.
In his viral tweet, Lineker called the policy “immeasurably cruel” and “directed at the most vulnerable people”. He also compared the language used by the government on asylum plans to that “used by Germany in the 30s”.
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?
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023
The Match of the Day star’s tweet, which has roughly 3 million views and 60 thousand likes, has been widely shared across social media. It is being heavily criticised by the office of the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as well as several MPs and Conservative party ministers, for belittling the tragic experiences of the Holocaust. they have demanded his sacking.
Richard Ayre, the BBC’s former controller of editorial policy, said the corporation’s director general could dismiss Lineker over his Twitter commentary.
While some have also noted that his comments violate BBC’s impartiality guidelines, BBC is yet to come out with an official statement.
Speaking to the BBC, Indian-origin UK home secretary Suella Braverman said the comment “diminishes the unspeakable tragedy” of the Holocaust and said she found it “offensive” as her husband is Jewish.
While many have criticised Lineker’s words, some are calling out the provocative nature of the sports show host’s criticism of the government’s new asylum-seeking policy.
Piers Morgan said the remarks were “clearly incendiary” but that his opinions “should not matter to the BBC’s news output”.
Labour Party’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she disagreed with Lineker’s comments, but he was entitled to speak out. “People who feel strongly should be able to speak out and say the things that they feel,” she said.
Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt told MPs that Labour is “borrowing from the Gary Lineker playbook” in its criticism of the government’s small boats strategy.
Thank you for mentioning me in your clumsy analogy. I’m just happy to have been better in the 6 yard box than you are at the dispatch box. Best wishes.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 9, 2023
However, despite the intense criticism, Lineker expects to be retained as a presenter.
In response to the retaliatory vitriol, Lineker tweeted Wednesday: “I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no choice.”
The Illegal Migration Bill was introduced in the British Parliament by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary Suella Braverman to prevent those travelling across the Channel in small boats and arriving illegally from claiming asylum, and to block them from returning or seeking citizenship.
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