Gary Lineker

[El Pollo Diablo]

Beautifully British end to the matter. Both parties work out a statement, go back to how things were, neither apologises to the other, they just agree not to talk about it any more and that's the end of it. Nod of awareness, stick the kettle on, ask how their kids are doing.

[temptar]

Well, now.

Tbh it looks screamingly like the BBC backed down and quickly. Lineker's contract must be lock tight.

[temptar]

Beautifully British end to the matter. Both parties work out a statement, go back to how things were, neither apologises to the other, they just agree not to talk about it any more and that's the end of it. Nod of awareness, stick the kettle on, ask how their kids are doing.

Lineker's twitter account does not suggest this.

[Woodchopper]

Some thoughtful words from an historian on the use of ‘fascism’ as a comparison.
http://gladstonediaries.blogspot.com/20 ... scism.html

[shpalman]

There certainly is a moral issue, and I've no doubt everyone supporting him agree wholeheartedly with what he said, but the suspension of Lineker is about political impartiality, not about the Tories inability to see they're utterly evil. Not what he said, but his right to say it.

No, it's not. It's about the Tories punishing those who point out their moral failings, while not punishing those who break political neutrality to support them. See Fiona Bruce getting away with supporting domestic violence by Stanley Johnson, Peston and Laura K publishing Tory talking points as some sort of journalism, the BBC loading question time with far right panelists and questioners, etc.

There's no political neutrality at the BBC anyway.

Fiona Bruce to step down as Refuge ambassador over Stanley Johnson comments; but still (as of the time of posting) "getting away with" it as far as the BBC is concerned.

[IvanV]

Jonathan Pie says it nicely, as he so often does.

[Opti]

Fiona Bruce to step down as Refuge ambassador over Stanley Johnson comments; but still (as of the time of posting) "getting away with" it as far as the BBC is concerned.

Yep, the BBC is still not 'getting it'. Their sense of right and wrong is well out of whack. The leadership needs to reflect on their priorities and consider their positions. They're looking increasingly untenable.

[bjn]

The leadership are a bunch of partisan Tory appointees and their priorities are quite clear.

[dyqik]

The leadership are a bunch of partisan Tory appointees and their priorities are quite clear.

And their positions are at the whim of the Tory government. It's why they went along with punishing Lineker.

[jimbob]

The leadership are a bunch of partisan Tory appointees and their priorities are quite clear.

And their positions are at the whim of the Tory government. It's why they went along with punishing Lineker.

Who has now said that he will *continue* to post according to the guidelines and rightly not backed down at all. Further tweeting support for refugees

[Sciolus]

The leadership are a bunch of partisan Tory appointees and their priorities are quite clear.

And their positions are at the whim of the Tory government. It's why they went along with punishing Lineker.

No. It's because the BBC's leaders are actual Tories. Sharp has donated over £400,000 to the party, as well as fixing up Johnson's £800,000 loan. Davie was deputy chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative party in the 1990s and stood unsuccessfully as a councillor in 1993 and 1994.

The BBC will never be free of government pressure, but a future Labour government won't have anything like the degree of control there is now.