Gary Lineker’s unapologetic partiality is an insult to licence-fee payers

SIR – Gary Lineker’s arrogance is surpassed only by his ignorance. With freedom of speech comes responsibility.

I have been a senior citizen for many years, but am still obliged to pay income tax and for a television licence, meaning I contribute to excessive BBC salaries. I resent having to help pay Mr Lineker’s. My income tax also contributes to the excessive cost of housing illegal immigrants in hotels. I cannot afford to stay in hotels.

This country has thrived as a result of immigration, but I have yet to hear from any political party a serious solution for stopping illegal migrants risking their lives to cross the Channel in flimsy boats. If they have come from a safe country, they should simply be returned to that country.

Mr Lineker and presenters who support his ill-thought-through views should have the decency to resign from the BBC and work for a company that does not claim impartiality.

June Abbott

Ventnor, Isle of Wight

SIR – Gary Lineker should enjoy the same freedom to voice his ill-informed opinion as any member of the public, as long as the public are not obliged to contribute to his very generous salary.

It is time for the BBC to earn its funding, just like its competitors.

Hamish Hossick

Dundee

SIR – Given the support Gary Lineker has received, it is clear to me that our society no longer values a truly independent public-service broadcaster.

I am quite willing to live with this, so long as I do not have to pay for a licence.

Phil Stewart

London SW14

SIR – Leaving aside Gary Lineker’s questionable political views, what I really find repugnant is the fact that the BBC can afford to pay him and a handful of other football commentators inflated salaries totalling millions of pounds while being unable to afford the £1million per annum that it costs to fund the 20 or so members of the BBC Singers, one of the world’s finest chamber choirs.

That tells us all we need to know about the corporation’s values.

Roger White

Sherborne, Dorset

SIR – When I was a boy, I once said to my father that I thought the commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme was biased against my team, Manchester United. He said that if that was how I felt I should write a polite letter of complaint to him, which I did.

Within days, I received a handwritten letter from Mr Wolstenholme, assuring me that this was not the case, and telling me about his admiration for Sir Matt Busby and how he had rebuilt the club after the Munich air disaster.

I treasure that letter to this day and cannot imagine getting one like it from any of the commentators or pundits working now.

Philip Roberts

Caernarfon