Outrage over Gary Neville’s ‘Tories are cancer to UK’ slur
TV football pundit Gary Neville has sparked outrage with a jibe at the Tory leadership rivals, declaring: ‘The Conservatives are a cancer to the UK.’
The multi-millionaire Labour supporter’s taunt on social media drew furious condemnation, with many among his 5.4 million Twitter followers appalled by his words.
Former Manchester United and England player Neville, 47, triggered the row by commenting on an online post from Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg backing Boris Johnson’s attempt to return to Downing Street.
In response to Neville, farmer Andrew Guy said: ‘As someone suffering from cancer, I think your choice of words is disgusting.’
David Reed added: ‘For people who have lost loved ones, don’t compare this to cancer, retract this please.’
Entrepreneur Paul Tavares said: ‘As someone who has lost several close family members to the evil of cancer, how dare you make such a comparison in the name of political point scoring. How dare you!’
Publican Adam Brooks, a panellist on GB News, said: ‘Bad choice of word, no matter your feelings on this. Bad look.’
Sky pundit Neville, who appeared alongside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at last month’s party conference, faced a backlash
‘As a cancer sufferer, your words are disgusting’
earlier this month after revealing he would be joining beIN Sports, owned by the Qatar state, for next month’s World Cup, despite human rights concerns about the country.
Responding to accusations of hypocrisy, Neville, who will also be part of ITV’s team, insisted he would continue to highlight concerns on human rights in Qatar.
In July, Neville revealed he and co-pundit Jamie Carragher were often in hot water with Ofcom and TV bosses for commenting on politics and mocking the Tories.
He said remarks referring to Partygate, during a game in February – saying Crystal Palace and Brighton’s managers and players knew the difference between a Friday party night and work – infuriated Sky executives.
Neville said: ‘We got a right b ****** ing for that.
‘We have about 1,000 complaints from Ofcom every week. If we mention politics we get a call usually from the hierarchy at Sky.’
At last month’s Labour conference in Liverpool, Neville spoke to delegates about how there should be equal pay for men and women in sport. Yet in Qatar, women face huge restrictions.
Neville dismissed suggestions that he was a ‘woke Leftie’ and described himself as ‘a capitalist’ and ‘entrepreneurial businessman who likes to make a profit’.
He has been investing in property after the economic crash in 2008, and his business interests have included hotels, restaurants, film production and eco schemes.
Reports last year indicated that his financial assets totalled £70 million. Records from Companies House show that he has been involved with 60 businesses.
According to his LinkedIn profile, the Salford City FC co-owner is ‘currently working on St Michael’s, a £200 million development project in Manchester city centre’.