Fury as Labour frontbencher Lucy Powell says treatment of Gary Lineker over anti-Government tweet is like something from ‘Putin’s Russia’ – as Tory MPs blast ‘self-indulgent, out of touch and arrogant football pundits’
- The former England ace was reinstated as host of the highlights show this week
- Rishi Sunak has spoken of his relief that the situation has been resolved
Labour’s shadow culture secretary was branded ‘disgraceful’ today after likening criticism of Gary Lineker to censorship in ‘Putin’s Russia’.
Lucy Powell made the comparison as MPs discussed the furore around the Match of the Day host’s Twitter criticism of the Government’s immigration rhetoric.
The former England ace was reinstated as host of the highlights show after football coverage on BBC TV and radio was hit across the weekend by a walkout by pundits, presenters and reporters.
Rishi Sunak has spoken of his relief that the situation has been resolved, but numerous Tory backbenchers have continued to demand punitive action against the 62-year-old presenter and the broadcaster as a whole.
After being granted an Urgent Question in the Commons today Ms Powell asked Culture Minister Julia Lopez: ‘What does she think it looks like to the outside world that a much-loved sports presenter is taken off air for tweeting something the Government doesn’t like?
‘It sounds more like Putin’s Russia to me.
Lucy Powell made the comparison in the Commons today. Culture minister Ms Lopez replied: ‘I think it is a disgraceful comparison to make, and I think it is way off the mark.’
The former England ace was reinstated as host of the highlights show after football coverage on BBC TV and radio was hit across the weekend by a walkout by pundits, presenters and reporters.
‘Her Government has pursued a deliberate strategy of undermining the BBC to keep it over a barrel to get themselves more coverage.
‘It was on full display overnight and I’m sure it will be on full display here today. Threaten the licence fee, cut its funding, undermine its credibility. All in pursuit in keeping their foot on the BBC’s throat.’
Conservative former minister Andrew Percy told the Commons: ‘I hope that the shadow secretary of state will reflect on her comparison of this Government to the Putin regime which, of course, is engaged in war crimes and the murder of men, women, and children in Ukraine. That was beneath her.’
Mr Percy, a vice chair of the Anti-semitism all-party parliamentary group, also called on Gary Lineker to apologise for comparing the Government’s immigration policy to the language of 1930s Germany, describing it as ‘disgusting’.
He added: ‘As somebody who grew up surrounded by people who had their lives turned on their head by the Nazi regime in Germany, I hope that the minister will comment on his references to 1930s Germany.’
Culture minister Ms Lopez replied: ‘I also think it was distasteful to compare the Government’s actions or otherwise to the Putin regime, I think it is a disgraceful comparison to make, and I think it is way off the mark.’
Meanwhile right-winger John Hayes lashed out at ‘Self-indulgent, out of touch, insensitive, avaricious, smug and arrogant football pundits’ without naming any individuals.
Earlier, Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes told a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee meeting that it had been a ‘really difficult episode for the BBC’ but that she hopes ‘they can find their way through it’.
She said the BBC’s social media guidelines are not a matter for the media watchdog but for the broadcaster’s board to ‘draw that line’ in order to safeguard the BBC’s reputation.
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