New BBC chair criticises Gary Lineker’s social media posts about Tory MPs

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During a meeting with MPs on Wednesday, Samir Shah, the incoming chair of the BBC, stated that it seems as though Gary Lineker, the host of the BBC's most-watched sports show, has violated the organization's standards with his social media posts.

The individual expressed that a conflict between the host of Match of the Day and various members of the Conservative Party, such as the defense secretary, Grant Shapps, was not beneficial. This was due to the fact that it created a narrative surrounding Gary Lineker and the BBC rather than the cause he advocates for.

Prior to being officially designated as the new BBC chair, Shah shared his thoughts with the Culture, Media, and Sport committee. His appointment by the government marks the first time that a permanent head of the corporation's board has been appointed since the previous head, Richard Sharp, resigned in April.

Shah claimed that he worked independently from the Conservative government, even though he had ties to the party in power. The seasoned TV producer, who previously had a stint at the BBC, revealed that he was motivated to seek the position by Andrew Neil, who works as a TV host and is also the chair of the Spectator magazine.

Shah mentioned that his new position is challenging, but it's expected. He acknowledged that the BBC has faced rising criticism from politicians who believe that the media outlet is impartial in recent years.

The man stated that he would concentrate on aiding the BBC in navigating the charter renewal process in 2027. He specified that he aims to ensure that the BBC persists and continues to perform at its highest level.

Soon after he was appointed, the committee questioned his opinions on various BBC-related controversies, including the recent disagreement with Lineker. Lineker often uses his social media accounts to voice his disagreement with government policies.

At the start of the year, the BBC had to modify its rules concerning social media usage due to an incident involving a former English soccer player who made a comparison between the United Kingdom government's language on immigration and that utilized in Germany during the 1930s. Shah, when speaking to Members of Parliament, stated that it may be necessary to reassess the guidelines in light of the recent dispute.

The most recent disagreement started when Lineker put his signature on a letter against the Rwanda migration bill of the government. This led to a barrage of negative comments from some members of the Conservative Party, resulting in a string of sarcastic interactions on X.

According to Shah, Lineker's signature on the letter about Rwanda was not deemed "useful", but it did not violate the rules set by the corporation.

Shah mentioned that the tweets Lineker made recently, which named two politicians, appear to violate the guidelines. He believes that the BBC is currently investigating the matter and deciding what action to take. Despite this, Lineker has stated before that his content on X conforms with the BBC's guidelines.

During an interview, Shah was asked about his thoughts regarding the ongoing dispute between some members of the Conservative party and the BBC. The disagreement is centered around the BBC's refusal to modify their editorial guidelines to describe Hamas as a terrorist organization, a stance that is supported by the UK government. As a result, numerous politicians and officials have demanded that the BBC align their position on this matter.

Shah suggested that this particular case be considered in a more comprehensive examination of the BBC's editorial guidelines, which is anticipated to take place next year.