Lineker: «Immigrants, Great Britain like Nazi Germany». The Minister of the Interior to the BBC: “Fire him” – Corriere.it

“A cruel policy not very different from those applied in Germany in the 1930s, against the weakest sections of the population”. These are the words he wrote on Twitter Gary Lineker (8.7 million followers on the social network), former English striker for Barcelona and Tottenham as well as star of the national team, today one of the best known faces of the BBC, the highest paid TV commentator in the whole of the United Kingdom, above all for sporting events (annually earns the equivalent of about 1.5 million euros). His criticism is aimed at the British government and concerns the immigration plan that the executive would like to get approved to deal with the problem of clandestine landings. The words of approach to Nazism aroused indignation among the English conservatives, who immediately criticized him both via social media. In his defence, the former attacker specified that there is no need for such extreme solutions (Prime Minister Sunak’s plan borrowed from Boris Johnson’s plan envisages the deportation of illegal immigrants from Rwanda) “since Great Britain welcomes many fewer refugees than other large European countries much more exposed to the problem”.

Conservative reaction

The Tory leaders immediately asked for a measure from the most famous British television station, “because the BBC cannot turn a blind eye to the words of its highest paid commentator”. Interior Minister Suella Braverman, the main promoter of the bill, questioned whether Lineker could speak so openly on the issue, given the role she holds at the BBC, and is directly asking for her dismissal: “His words are a problem that now the television station will have to resolve, all this is not admissible, measures must be taken,” he said. Position that is not limited to the last tweet, but that arrives after weeks where Lineker he has always expressed, even on TV, a position of declared and open criticism of the Tories and their governments in general. There are those who criticize Lineker because his salary is paid by British taxpayers (many of them in favor of the Conservative government), who, like the Minister for Immigration Robert Jenrick (who is descended from Holocaust survivors), explain that the comparison it is absolutely out of place. Another exponent of the conservative party, Lee Anderson, wrote on his Facebook page: «Here is another example of overpaid TV superstars, those unable to realize what they are saying to the public. Dive into information and news about football matches instead of lecturing academically.”
Words that generated Lineker’s social reaction: “It is extraordinary to see the champions of freedom of speech asking to silence those with whom they do not agree”. To then add: «I will continue to speak for those poor souls who have no voice».

Great to see the freedom of speech champions out in force this morning demanding silence from those with whom they disagree.???lt;/p>— Gary Lineker ???(@GaryLineker) March 8, 2023

The BBC’s reply

Broadcasting general manager Tim Davie had also in the past been called out for Lineker’s unfiltered comments and opinions and it had been hinted that responsibilities also belonged to the BBC itself, that the former striker pronounces himself on live TV or through his social channels. Davie admitted that he wants to meet the commentator soon to address the issue: «We have a precise guideline for all commentators, called to refrain from taking political positions or sympathizing with one party or another. Each of our employees is aware of their responsibilities. We have an ad hoc disciplinary procedure for this kind of situation,” guaranteed the 17th director general of the BBC.

The contested law

Through Minister Braverman, the British government had presented a bill to Parliament to combat illegal immigration, in an attempt to block landings. A rule that also goes a long way in international law, since, according to the new regulation, the juridical precedence would go to expulsion, with respect to the asylum request, with the migrants who will be relocated, as mentioned in Rwanda or in other third countries. Anyone who is deported in this way will not be able to return to Britain in the future, much less apply for British citizenship. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself widely defended this proposal, despite the many criticisms that come not only from commentators such as Lineker, but also from NGOs and associations defending the rights of migrants. However, the words of the former striker touched on a topic that will be the subject of debate for a long time to come, and not only in the United Kingdom.