Reader’s views For and against
Telegraph readers were quick to share their thoughts in the readers’ comments section, in our Facebook Community group and in our Letters pages, with many pushing for Lineker to be sacked.
Most viewed his comments as a breach of the BBC’S commitment to impartiality and accused him of using his position to press his own political views. However, others argued he was exercising his right to freedom of speech.
The majority of readers were keen for Gary Lineker to go, as they saw his tweets as the last in a string of misdemeanours during his time at the BBC.
Readers also suggested that as the presenter’s salary was disproportionate to his role, it would be a good time for the broadcaster to cut its losses.
1 Patrick Taylor
“Who on earth is in any way surprised at this latest outburst? The man has form, and imagines himself untouchable. But isn’t this a perfect opportunity to jettison a man who costs the BBC (by which I mean the taxpayer), an eye-watering and wholly undeserved £1.3 million each year?
“Does anyone honestly think that Lineker’s mere presence in the studio has ever added a single viewer? ‘Do you want to see all the goals scored in the Premier League today? Yes? Then we’ve got them’ – oh, Gary won’t be on? ‘No, I think I’ll give it a miss this week then’, said no one, ever’.”
2 P Malone
“For those defending Lineker’s right to free speech I say let him speak, and Tweet what he wants. But he can’t do so as an employee of the BBC when he has agreed to abide by a code of conduct that requires him to keep his opinions private.
“He should certainly be sacked for this repeated breach. He is wealthy enough to fend for himself in the world of the self-employed.”
3 Peter Williman, via Facebook Community Group
“If Jeremy Clarkson and Piers Morgan can be fired, why not Lineker? He is not even a journalist, but only a football pundit using his privileged position to broadcast his Left-leaning political views. The BBC is supposedly impartial. Their journalists have been fired from roles for less.
“Let the BBC save his salary and reward licencefee payers with better value.”
4 Franklyn Eveleigh
“Gary Lineker is paid – a lot – to opine on football. By pontificating on political matters from the throne on which he sits, he is in contravention of his job description.
“As an individual, he can say what he likes (as far as I am concerned) but not when his contractual obligations forbid him to do so. Time to go.”
5. Petra Greene
“He’s long overdue to be sacked. He’s the reason many people are no longer funding the BBC through the licence tax.”
6 Stephen Howey
“Gary Lineker’s claim that Channel migrants are ‘the most vulnerable people’ shows a lack of understanding of the background of those seeking to enter this country illegally. They are, in the main, only vulnerable because they are risking their lives crossing the Channel in unsuitable small boats.
“Perhaps Mr Lineker and others who protest at the Government’s proposals could explain why a large percentage of Channel migrants are from Albania, Pakistan and other safe countries.”
Readers less averse to Gary Lineker remaining at the BBC said he was within his right to express political opinions on his personal social media account.
1 Stephen Rose
“Since when was having an opinion such a crime? We’re encouraged to be ourselves yet when anyone has an opinion that differs to ‘public opinion’ the vitriol poured on that individual is disgraceful.
“Gary Lineker is perfectly entitled to express his feelings without everyone having to agree with it.”
2 David Harris
“Next the Government will be silencing comedians, weather reporters, quiz show hosts, in fact anyone who has a vague connection to the BBC and challenges their view.
“This is a football pundit we’re talking about who airs his views on his own private Twitter account.”
3 Kathy Thomas
“I’m no fan of Gary Lineker but see no reason why a sports presenter can’t express his personal views on political issues. Everyone can decide for themselves whether they think his opinions are worth listening to.
“Amazing how the many advocates of free speech who complain about ‘wokeness’ – and the cancellation of speakers at universities with views they agree with suddenly want him sacked. If he had tweeted in support of the new bill, I suspect most of them would not be bothered about ‘impartiality’.”
4 Gillian Brown
“Gary Lineker has as much right to free speech as anyone else. I believe he has also housed refugees, so may feel close to this issue. Free speech should be for all, and there is no reason for Mr Lineker to be cancelled.
“The refugee/ boat crisis is completely of the Government’s own making. They have been in power for 13 years and made a complete hash of it throughout. Suella Braverman is one of the worst Home Secretaries in memory – only in the job, presumably because it was part of the deal to get Sunak in unopposed.
“The tone of the language she frequently uses is terrible. It would have been roundly condemned by a Tory party of principle back in the days of Enoch Powell. Now it merits a promotion.”