Gary Lineker could be angling for a job as a political commentator on Sky, Trevor Phillips suggested on his show this morning.
The BBC Sport presenter has repeatedly landed himself in hot water for his outspoken tweets – with recent examples including suggesting Tory MP Jonathan Gullis could not read and that Lee Anderson, the party’s deputy chairman, would need to take a job with Walkers Crisps after the election. Some MPs have suggested that the BBC’s highest paid presenter is breaching impartiality guidelines – and have even suggested the organisation could break election law if it continues.
Speaking to Mr Phillips on Sky News this morning, former director general BBC Greg Dyke said the BBC guidelines were wrong and it “doesn’t matter what Gary tweeted”.
“I think the BBC has got itself in a difficult position, and will have to get out of it at some stage,” he said, appearing to suggest they will need to change their guidelines.
He pointed out that impartiality should be less important for entertainment or sport presenters, such as Mr Lineker.
But Mr Phillips wryly responded: “I slightly worry that Gary’s angling for this job here.”
The Match of the Day host was also one of several celebrity signatories to an open letter about the Government’s Rwanda plan, demanding that leaders come up instead with a “fair new plan for refugees”.
Jeremy Clarkson has also questioned Mr Lineker’s future with the BBC, asking why he “doesn’t just leave”, then being “free to say what he wants”.
Speaking out in his latest column for The Sun, in a piece entitled, Leave Beeb, Gary, the Clarkson’s Farm star said: “The new chairman of the BBC is saying, after Gary had a go at a Tory minister, that maybe he’s out of order again. What’s to be done?
“I suspect Gary likes the BBC and doesn’t want to harm it, so why doesn’t he just leave?” Jeremy continued: “He earns a great deal from his very successful podcast empire so he wouldn’t suffer financially. He’d then be free to say what he wants.”
Under BBC social media guidance updated in September, “flagship programme presenters” are advised not to ‘attack a political party” or “criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK”. They are also told not to comment “on any issue that is a matter of political debate during the election period for UK general elections”.
Mr Lineker’s BBC colleagues are reportedly frustrated with his political outbursts, with one quoted as saying: “People are sick of it. He doesn’t care that the BBC has more important things to deal with. Personal brands count for so much more now.”
Another BBC employee said: “The BBC has so many more important things to do. It doesn’t need this at a time when the licence fee is much less than it thought and it needs to get out there and argue its case.
“It’s a complete distraction.”
The BBC declined to comment on “individuals or indeed individual tweets”.
A spokesman said: “While the guidance does allow people to talk about issues that matter to them, it is also clear that individuals should be civil and not call into question anyone’s character.”
