THE BBC has published new rules restricting what top presenters like Gary Lineker are allowed to say on social media.
The move follows a row sparked after Lineker condemned Home Secretary Suella Braverman for using “language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s” in a video where she pledged to tackle illegal immigration into the UK.
The escalating fall-out saw the BBC forced to broadcast its flagship Match of the Day show without Lineker and his fellow football pundits before performing an embarrassing U-turn. It said that new guidance for presenters would be published moving forward.
On Wednesday, less than one day before the publication of the BBC’s new rules, Lineker was again criticising Braverman (below).
The Home Secretary had claimed that “many” people were pretending to be gay in order to receive “special treatment” and access to the UK.
Lineker shared a video of Braverman’s claims, commenting: “How could you possibly know if they are gay or they are not gay?”
He later said the Home Secretary was being “disingenuous” as he highlighted figures showing that only around 1.5% of UK asylum claims were linked to sexuality.
But on Thursday morning, the football pundit welcomed the new rules restricting what presenters on flagship shows can say and when.
The BBC reported that the guidelines – which apply to personalities including Alan Sugar from The Apprentice as well as presenters on Antiques Roadshow, Dragon's Den, The One Show, Masterchef, Top Gear and Strictly Come Dancing – will not allow “political campaigning”.
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The rules preventing hosts from endorsing or attacking political parties apply while the programme is on air and for a two-week window before and after any series, the BBC said.
The BBC further said the new guidelines prevent presenters from criticising the character of individual politicians in the UK, commenting on any issue of political debate during an election period, or taking up an official role for a campaigning group.
The flagship hosts will have a "particular responsibility to respect the BBC's impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC".
Lineker said the new rules were “all very sensible”.
The news would suggest that Lineker will be unable to accept a seat in the Lords, if Westminster rumours prove true and Labour’s Keir Starmer is considering offering one to him.
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