TWEET OF TWO HALVES
Lineker’s double messages beat Beeb’s ban
GARY Lineker is beating a BBC tweets ban – by playing a crafty one-two move.
The Match of the Day host posts TWO comments in one tweet after Beeb bosses told presenters to remain impartial in any social media posts.
Former England striker Lineker, 59, is trying the new tactic to avoid being caught offside. But his fans won’t find it hard to decipher his messages.
For instance, on November 4, he wrote of EU-hating Nigel: “I’m beginning to think Farage might be a bit of a chancer.”
But the message added: “I’ve come to the conclusion Farage is in no way a bit of a chancer.”
He also appeared to refer to the bullying scandal involving Home Secretary Priti Patel when he tweeted: “It can’t be easy to u n i n t e n t i o n a l ly bully someone?”, adding: “It’s easy to unintentionally bully someone.”
And addressing the lockdown leak from No10, he wrote: “Doesn’t seem right that the new lockdown guidelines are all leaked to a chosen few in the media prior to press conference.”
The very same tweet then added: “Seems perfectly reasonable that the new lockdown guidelines are all leaked to a chosen few in the media prior to the press conference.”
BBC staff were ordered to stop “virtue signalling” or posting “controversial” opinions online, under stricter new guidance on using social media.
Lineker had faced a backlash from right-wing internet users after his online missives.
In September, he took a £ 400,000 pay cut – down to £1.35million – to stay as MOTD host, along with an agreement to be more careful in his use of Twitter to push political causes.