BBC stars ‘can express political opinions’
Presenters are free to offer political views when their shows are not being aired, corporation admits
The BBC has “arrangements” with some stars that allow them to express political opinions despite fronting programmes for the corporation, a senior executive said yesterday. Following claims that Gary Lineker’s tweets were protected by a “special agreement” with Tim Davie, the director-general, it has emerged that presenters can be exempt from being politically impartial online by virtue of individual understandings with bosses.
THE BBC has “arrangements” with some stars that allow them to express political opinions despite fronting programmes for the corporation, a senior executive said yesterday.
Following claims that Gary Lineker’s tweets were protected by a “special agreement” with Tim Davie, the director-general, it has emerged that presenters can be exempt from being politically impartial online by virtue of individual understandings with bosses.
The arrangements allow some freelance stars to voice their political views when effectively off-duty from the BBC, it is understood, during periods when they are not working for the corporation and therefore less publicly associated with its brand.
The more closely linked to the BBC a presenter might be, the more they are expected to exercise restraint in expressing political views. Stars who appear on screen more rarely, including Chris Packham, the Springwatch presenter and anti-hunt advocate, may be less constrained.
David Jordan, BBC director of editorial standards, has said that presenters like Lord Sugar, who appears on The Apprentice once a year, are not expected to curb their political views when not directly “identified” with the broadcaster.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Media Show, Mr Jordan explained: “There is an arrangement with Alan Sugar, and that is about identification. Alan Sugar has been very, very restrained you will have noticed recently, because he is presenting The Apprentice at the present time.
“He voluntarily restrains himself on social media when he is very identified with the BBC presenting The Apprentice, or just before that or just after that.
“The rest of the time he is free to say, as a businessperson, whatever he likes.”
Mr Jordan’s comments come after Jon Holmes, Lineker’s agent, stated that his client believed his tweets about the Government’s small-boats policy, which provoked the controversy that led to him stepping back from Match of the Day duties, would not breach existing impartiality guidance.
Mr Holmes wrote that Lineker believed he had an understanding with Mr Davie, and that tweeting about passionate subjects would be protected under this “special arrangement”.
It is understood that Lineker’s BBC appearances once a week for much of the year may preclude him enjoying the same understanding enjoyed by infrequent contributors such as Lord Sugar, who last year criticised Mick Lynch, the RMT leader. Packham, who praised hunt saboteurs in 2022, was not reprimanded by the BBC for any breach.
Michael Portillo occasionally presents series of his Great Railway Journeys and is allowed to air political views on GB News, and Hugh Fearnley-whittingstall, a fellow infrequent contributor, has been a long-time Green Party campaigner.
Despite the row, Lineker has renewed his activity on Twitter, liking a series of tweets hailing “incredible” public sector strikes and doubling down on criticism of Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, whose policies were branded “vile”.