GB News: Lord Wolfson calls out Gary Lineker over Israel silence
A new push by Tory MPs to get ministers to look at the future of the TV licence fee – dubbed the “telly tax” – has been launched after the latest row involving Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
Conservative MPs are furious that the BBC’s highest-paid millionaire presenter took to X (formerly Twitter) to attack Suella Braverman and defend the attempts by anti-Israel demonstrators to take control of London’s streets and public spaces.
The Home Secretary has described the demonstrations as “hate marches” after black Jihadi flags were flown at them, anti-Semitic chants were used and some protesters openly wore symbols glorifying the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
In his post, Lineker said: “Marching and calling for a ceasefire and peace so that more innocent children don’t get killed is not really the definition of a hate march.”
In his own intervention, Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis said: “The BBC licence fee isn’t fit for purpose anymore, and the BBC continues to be out of touch with the majority of the British people. It’s time to scrap the telly tax.”
READ MORE: Calls for an inquiry into the BBC after it ran footage with ‘famous Hamas actor’
He went on to allege that the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie had promised him at a meeting with the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs that this sort of behaviour would not be permitted.
He said: “Tim Davie told me personally at the 1922 Committee that employees like Gary Lineker were not to use their social media platforms to target individuals with political campaigns.
“He was clearly not being honest with me, and yet again has surrendered to out-of-touch ‘stars’.”
Lineker copied in Ms Braverman’s post raising concerns over the plans to disrupt Armistice Day.
She said: “I agree with the Prime Minister. It is entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London. If it goes ahead there is an obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence and damage as well as giving offence to millions of decent British people.”
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This is not the first time Lineker has taken aim at Ms Braverman and the Conservative government.
Earlier this year the BBC briefly suspended him for likening its policy on controlling immigration to 1930s Nazi Germany.
However, since then the BBC has changed the rules to allow its presenters to have more freedom in venting their political beliefs even though it undermines the BBC’s impartiality.
The BBC pointed to the latest guidance which allows flagship presenters, “to express opinions about the issues that matter to you. This includes issues that may be the subject of public and political debate”.
It is understood that no action is being taken over the post as it did not breach guidelines.
Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, deputy chairman of the Common Sense Group, said: “It’s shocking that Gary Lineker who received millions from the taxpayer is using his platform to defend those protesting on remembrance weekend.”
Dudley North MP Marco Longhi described it as “a failure of BBC governance”.
He said: “Some people don’t have a problem with Lineker using his taxpayer-funded platform to make political arguments, others do. I do.
“I do because it diminishes further still the reputation of the BBC for being impartial. Lineker is synonymous with BBC and he is paid for via the licence fee.
“There is no escaping this, whatever rule changes the BBC make to allow him to be political, the biggest damage caused here is to the BBC itself.”
Others believe it is linked with what is perceived to be biased coverage against Israel by the BBC.
This has included the refusal by the Corporation to describe Hamas as terrorists despite the slaughter of 1,400 innocent Israeli citizens as well as questions over reports including one wrongly claiming Israel blew up a hospital in Gaza and another involving a suspected Hamas propaganda actor.
Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “After what we’ve witnessed in recent weeks, I think most people have given up on trying to get them to speak any sense or act with any sort of consistency. It’s time to make the licence fee optional.”
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