Lineker: I say what I like

A DEFIANT Gary Lineker yesterday dismissed rising anger at him for condemning people who doubted the ages of migrants as racists.

The presenter was backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and a host of luvvies as he told critics: ‘I’ll say what I want.’

Lineker, pictured, has faced a barrage of criticism for branding as ‘hideously racist and utterly heartless’ anyone questioning the ages of young men arriving from Calais. The 55-year-old also retweeted to his 5.3 million followers a charity’s untrue and unchecked claim that the oldest-looking asylum seeker was actually a Home Office translator – which the Home Office later confirmed was incorrect.

Twitter user Tim Bradley wrote: ‘The Jungle kids don’t look like kids – not racist to say so, and you’re overstepping your mark as a neutral BBC presenter.’

Lineker replied: ‘I’ll say what I want on my twitter feed, thanks.’

Mr Corbyn also sent a message of support for Lineker.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Gary is a freelance broadcaster and this is a personal Twitter account.’