Gary Lineker hits back after being told to stick to football over Rwanda views

"Sign Up For Our Global Reporters' Morning Headlines Email"

Get Free Morning Headlines Email, Sign Up Now!

Gary Lineker, who is a host on the BBC, has responded to negative comments for his suggestion to the government to end their asylum program for Rwanda.

Gary Lineker, the host of Match of the Day, affixed his signature to a document together with numerous famous personalities and well-known individuals, requesting for a fresh immigration process that reflects the preferences of the citizens of the United Kingdom.

Following the rejection of the £140m proposal by the Supreme Court, which was deemed to pose a significant threat of exposing refugees to potential human rights violations, a new solution has been required.

In simpler terms, the message conveyed in the open letter was that the current system is not representative of the desires of the British people who have generously given to their communities. In support of a new campaign, the writer believes that a fairer system can be established.

Although football legend Gary Lineker voiced his opinion about politics, secretary of defence Grant Shapps disagrees and advised him to limit his commentary to TV appearances instead.

The Secretary of Defence, Grant Shapps, has recommended that Gary Lineker should confine his opinions to the realm of television rather than sharing them publicly.

Mr. Shapps stated that it is not ethical or justifiable to endanger individuals by trafficking them across the English Channel and causing them to lose their lives at sea in order to illegally enter the country. This sort of behavior is not indicative of a civilized society that adheres to moral principles.

I don't agree with him at all. Even though a lot of people tune in to watch him talk about football and do TV hosting, I think it's best if he only focuses on those things.

Lineker responded by sharing a photo of Mr Shapps, which had Lineker's name underneath it. Furthermore, he posted three other pictures of Mr Shapps, but this time, with the names Michael Green, Corinne Stockheath, and Sebastian Fox instead of his own.

Lineker said that it is quite ironic for someone who cannot even stick to a single name to make such a statement. He sarcastically referred to the four identities used by Shapps.

In the past, Mr. Shapps was accused of breaking the rules for politicians and lawmakers by maintaining his job as a salesman for schemes promising quick wealth while using a fake name, Michael Green, after joining parliament.

People have claimed that he used fake names like Sebastian Fox and Corinne Stockheath.

According to a representative from the BBC, it is important to show proper manners and respect while communicating. The spokesperson also mentioned that they address any concerns pertaining to the behavior of their presenters.

Lineker, a retired professional football player from England, was part of a group of famous individuals who signed a letter urging the government to abandon its plan for Rwanda and instead create a more equitable solution for refugees. (PA)

At the beginning of the year, Lineker was involved in a controversy regarding impartiality in the BBC. He expressed disapproval of a recently introduced asylum seeker policy by the government.

The TV channel asked him to step away from the program Match Of The Day for a short time. However, other sports analysts refused to appear on BBC shows in support of him, so he resumed his position on the show.

The controversy caused the BBC to enhance their social media policies for their employees regarding fairness and politeness.

Jonathan Gullis, a member of the Conservative Party, claimed that Lineker had violated the BBC's guidelines regarding impartiality on a social media platform that was previously known as Twitter.

The television host answered by stating that Jonathan had not familiarized himself with the recently updated guidelines. Alternatively, the host emphasized that perhaps Jonathan did not understand the guidelines on his own and required someone to read and explain them to him.

In the meantime, Downing Street declared that Rishi Sunak won't be bothered by Lineker's disapproval of the Rwanda proposal.

When questioned about whether or not Mr. Sunak is taken aback by one of the BBC's most prominent personalities returning to speak out on politics, the Prime Minister's spokesperson stated that such inquiries should be directed towards Mr. Lineker and, of course, the BBC.

"However, we will not lose focus on the significant requirement to prevent the boats from arriving and ensure the success of this legislation," he stated.

A representative for the BBC responded to Lineker's critics by saying that he, like other independent presenters, has the freedom to work on projects for other organizations. However, it is important that this work does not interfere with his commitments to the BBC, does not violate guidelines on conflict of interest, and does not bring the BBC's reputation into question. It was emphasized that Lineker frequently adheres to these guidelines.

The representative later stated: "We choose not to make any remarks regarding specific persons or their tweets."

Although the instructions do permit individuals to discuss topics that are important to them, they also state that people must behave in a polite manner and avoid criticizing someone's personality.

We talk about any problems that come up with presenters when it's needed.

The recent proposal from the government of Rwanda would require judges and courts in the UK to disregard certain parts of the Human Rights Act. The goal is to make it possible to send individuals seeking asylum back to Rwanda.

According to the proposal, individuals seeking asylum in the UK would be transferred to Rwanda for evaluation. Based on the assessment, they could receive official refugee status or be permitted to remain in Rwanda.

If that's not possible, they can try to get permission to move there for different reasons or ask for protection in a different country that is considered safe. Until now, none of the people requesting asylum have been relocated to that particular place.

Lineker was not alone in advocating for a new asylum system, as former British army leader Richard Dannatt and actor Brian Cox also voiced their support for the cause.

According to Mr Dannatt, it is surprising that there is such a determined effort to implement the unpopular proposal of relocating individuals seeking refuge to Rwanda.

Cox, who is 77 years old, expressed that the United Kingdom's system of granting asylum is in a state of chaos. This is due in part to the government's persistent efforts to implement a distressing scheme that involves transporting individuals to Rwanda.