Gary Lineker is under fire from left and right this morning after he compared the government's immigration plans and the language used by the government to that of Nazi Germany.
A number of Conservative MPs have expressed their fury at his comments, with some calling for him to be sacked, while Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the BBC star was "wrong to say that".
Lineker will reportedly be "spoken to" by BBC bosses today, although he is not subject to the same strict social media policies of the corporation's journalists and current affairs staff.
In response to a video a message by Home Secretary Suella Braverman about stopping migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, Lineker tweeted: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Good heavens, this is beyond awful. https://t.co/f0fTgWXBwp
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023
When challenged about his comment by someone on Twitter, Lineker replied: "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 1930s."
The £1.35 million a year BBC star has since been criticised by both Tory and Labour MPs, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman saying she was "disappointed" by the comments, while her opposition counterpart told LBC that he was "wrong to say that".
Suella Braverman told BBC Breakfast: "I'm disappointed. Obviously I think it's unhelpful to compare our measures which are lawful, proportionate and, indeed, compassionate to 1930s Germany. I also think we're on the side of the British people here.
"It's plain for anyone to see that the British people have had enough of this situation of thousands of people coming here at huge cost to the taxpayer, and undermining our laws, and in fact, the British generosity. That needs to stop."
When asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if Lineker should resign or be sacked, Braverman replied: "That's a matter for the BBC and they will resolve that."
"I just don't think you should make comparisons with the 1930s."
— LBC (@LBC) March 8, 2023
Labour's @YvetteCooperMP tells @NickFerrariLBC that she doesn't support Gary Lineker's controversial tweet about the government's Illegal Migration Bill. pic.twitter.com/Pc1xfkfHu5
Braverman's opposition counterpart, Yvette Cooper, was asked on LBC if she supports what Lineker said, and she replied: "No, I don't. I think that was wrong. I think he was wrong to say that. I just don't think you should make comparisons with the 1930s.
"Look, we can have a debate about all sorts of different aspects, and people will take different views about different aspects of policies and issues and so on. But I don't think you should make those sorts of comparisons."
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who is married to an Israeli, said this morning: "My children are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, and I think those sorts of words should not be thrown around lightly. Gary Lineker is paid for by the British taxpayer. And it's disappointing that he is so far out of step with the British public."
The Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson also weighed in, labelling Lineker's comment "disgusting and vile".
He added: "The BBC should disassociate themselves from these types of comments and ask themselves the question 'is this the type of comment they expect from their publicly funded presenters?' Awful."
In response to the outrage this morning, Lineker tweeted: "Great to see the freedom of speech champions out in force this morning demanding silence from those with whom they disagree."
I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly). I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot. I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all. 👊🏻
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 8, 2023
The BBC said earlier today that Lineker would be "spoken to" and "reminded of his responsibilities".
A spokesperson told The Telegraph: "The BBC has social media guidance, which is published. Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media. We have appropriate internal processes in place if required."
This is not the first time that Lineker has come under fire for tweeting about politics. Last year, BBC director general Tim Davie told MPs: “I’ve talked to Gary and he has sent thousands of tweets, and I think overall he is in a lot better state.”
He added: “Overall the conversation goes on … It is a work in progress in terms of where he draws the line. We have had a conversation and I think he understands the guidelines.”
