Gary Lineker

[Leslie Aikenhead]

No one I believe has any objection to free speech, however whether you're a freelancer or not when you work for the BBC you sign an agreement that you will not do anything inside or outside the BBC that may reflect upon its impartiality and because of his strong links with the BBC it is why it was deemed he had broken those rules. It was not the fact that he disagreed with Government policy it was the fact that he compared it to Nazism which in itself was an insult to the 6 million plus people who were murdered for no other reason that Hitler didn't like them.

To compare his remarks to those made by Lord Sugar, or the antics of Boris Johnson has not even a tenuous link to what Lineker inferred. As a Licence fee payer I personally do not want to hear some overpaid self opinionated person making statements which shows that he has no real grasp of history but which remarks may influence his followers who may even have less knowledge than he apparently has. A recent survey of young people showed that some thought Hitler was British and that Churchill was our enemy during WWII.

In Germany Lineker would be facing arrest for his remarks as it is an offence under Federal law to compare Nazism with any current situation within their borders.

Liniker's assertion that we take in less than any other country may or may not be factual, but he conveniently forgets that the UK is the most densely populated country per square mile than any other country in Europe and because of his privileged position engendered by his overpaid salary, partially and forcibly paid out of my State pension, he is not directly affected by shortage of housing, social services, transport or medical facilities no matter how many crocodile tears he may shed.

Absolutely spot on mate, I couldn't add anything at all to that. Nail hit squarely on the head. 😏

[James Curry]

Well I suppose you are all entitled to be wrong at the same time and have your say. That is democracy and free speech even though you are talking a load of Balderdash, I assume no one objects to my using freedom of speech.

[j.sabourn]

If you choose a proper name to deliver it why not. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Dread the day when freedom of speech is outlawed, and it could well happen.
Free speech is a corner stone of democracy, but it does not give the user the right to castigate others in such a manner that may cause harm.
In a public forum such as footy broadcasts there will be all manner of persons listening, some may well take offence, some may even take the bloody gate to go with it.

[James Curry]

Don't you just wish people would get it right. Gary Lineker DID NOT say or tweet anything using his football programme. The tweet was using his personal twitter account and had nothing to do with the BBC. The BBC are the ones that made themselves look like idiots.

I am amazed at those on here on some posts have defended the BBC, mostly they say the BBC is biased on it's reporting and anti Conservative party.

#63 Can you explain what you are on about John , some one stirring your tea for you, now I wonder who that might be!!!!

[Douglas Bay]

Oh I think he does and sees what is coming down the tracks with this crowd.

Are you serious??!!
What an odious thing to say ... you, like Lineker, comparing this Government to the Nazi's?
If you don't like what you see and would rather a rank socialist government with a dictator at its head,
I would suggest you move to North Korea in double quick time and send us all a postcard after 2 months.... if you've survived.

[Douglas Bay]

Well I suppose you are all entitled to be wrong at the same time and have your say. That is democracy and free speech even though you are talking a load of Balderdash, I assume no one objects to my using freedom of speech.

...using words such as "entitled to be wrong " ... "talking a load of Balderdash" ...
I'd call your comments misguided self-opinionated drivel, used to assuage your ego rather than uphold
your side of the argument.
This does happen - viz., castigate and abuse others when one sees the argument lost - then tack it under the "freedom of speech" tag.
Blair and Brown used that tactic on several occasions... remember WMD's?
Nice try ....

[Jim R Christie]

- - - Updated - - -
Lineker's company 'own' him and sub contract his services to the BBC - who, please keep remembering, are funded solely by the
fee paying public through our licence paying.

That's incorrect.
A substantial portion of the BBC's funding comes from commercial sources, e.g. when they sell their programming/productions elsewhere.
In 2022 commercial income came to £1.5 Billion, which equates to 30% of the BBC's total funding.

[Johnny Kieran]

I don't think it's about gov.uk being compared with the Nazis of the 30s, because the people put gov.uk in power. The Nazis were not just Hitler and his mob, many ordinary working class plebs were members of the Nazi party, as were many of the German servicemen and women. Linekers remarks tended to land on the shoulders of most working class people that support stopping the influx of illegals.
gov.uk don't really give a monkeys nudger about the illegal entry by so much potentially cheap labour, it's appeasing the people in preparation for future elections that matter to them.
Lineker is a twat, it's that simple.

[James Curry]

...using words such as "entitled to be wrong " ... "talking a load of Balderdash" ...
I'd call your comments misguided self-opinionated drivel, used to assuage your ego rather than uphold
your side of the argument.
This does happen - viz., castigate and abuse others when one sees the argument lost - then tack it under the "freedom of speech" tag.
Blair and Brown used that tactic on several occasions... remember WMD's?
Nice try ....

Oh dear , let's bring Blair & Brown into the thread. Seriously !!! next thing you will be saying Blair had Dr Kelly killed.