Should Gary Linekar be sacked by the BBC for his latest political comments?

[Taylerlee]

Gary Linekar has set himself up as an outspoken critic of the Governments immigration policy in respect of the small boat crisis. Whilst doing this he is a very, very highly paid (over paid?) presenter on the publicly funded BBC. I personally believe in free speech but would be critical of Linekar whichever side of the argument he was on, In my opinion his contract should be terminated immediately.
Background - The Match of the Day host had said the language setting out the plan was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". This is from a man contracted to the BBC an organisation purporting to promote impartiality - sack him!

 

[pabloescaban]

Like most 'celebrities' he knows a bandwagon when he sees one.
He now says he doesn't care if the BBC sack him or not.
That's only because he knows the outcome will be 'not'.
And he's probably got forty million in the bank without doing a days work in his life so it's understandable if he's not worried about getting fired

 

[grog68]

The problem is he is Freelance, I think if he was employed by the BBC as an employee then he should remain impartial publically, but he is not employed by them, he is basically a sub contractor so I can't see how the BBC can insist he remains impartial during times when he is not 'working' for them. Assuming he has a contract with the BBC for x years, It would depend I suppose on what the contract says, if it states he should remain impartial at all times then they have grounds to end his contract, but if it doesn't then by ending his contact they could be in Breach of contract.

I have absolutely no Legal experience and the above statement could be total Bull

 

[steptoe]

The problem is he is Freelance, I think if he was employed by the BBC as an employee then he should remain impartial publically, but he is not employed by them, he is basically a sub contractor so I can't see how the BBC can insist he remains impartial during times when he is not 'working' for them. Assuming he has a contract with the BBC for x years, It would depend I suppose on what the contract says, if it states he should remain impartial at all times then they have grounds to end his contract, but if it doesn't then by ending his contact they could be in Breach of contract.

I have absolutely no Legal experience and the above statement could be total Bull

Most freelance contracts implicitly state you can at no time do or say anything that MAY being the client/main contractor into disrepute.
They could if they wanted terminate his contract with immediate effect.

 

[soltia]

Should be applauded for his comments. Am not a fan of his but he has gone up in my estimation. The government proposals have rightly been castigated by every human rights organisation.

 

[woody6222]

Gary Linekar has set himself up as an outspoken critic of the Governments immigration policy in respect of the small boat crisis. Whilst doing this he is a very, very highly paid (over paid?) presenter on the publicly funded BBC. I personally believe in free speech but would be critical of Linekar whichever side of the argument he was on, In my opinion his contract should be terminated immediately.
Background - The Match of the Day host had said the language setting out the plan was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". This is from a man contracted to the BBC an organisation purporting to promote impartiality - sack him!

Burp!!

 

[steptoe]

Should be applauded for his comments. Am not a fan of his but he has gone up in my estimation. The government proposals have rightly been castigated by every human rights organisation.

It's not about asylum seekers tho, is it,?
These people are economicmigrants that come to the UK illegally,
If it was up to me I'd let the RN shoot them while they are still in the water, that would stop the next lot

 

[pabloescaban]

We don't have return agreements with any European countries now that we've left via Brexit.
Before, we could legally return them to whichever country they had come from.
This is a ridiculous state of affairs.

Instead of patrolling the channel and bringing them to the UK, we should just drop them back in France.

That's where they sailed from, and after each of them has been on half a dozen €2000 boat rides and have no money left, they'll go back home.

Of course the usual arguments will ensue about being compassionate etc but they're not interested in asylum otherwise they'd have stayed in the first safe country they stepped foot in.

 

[jigger121]

This is what's wrong with the world, people aren't allowed an opinion and if they do and you don't like it, we want to ruin their lives and take everything they've built
Personally I couldn't care about the opinion of someone who isn't in politics as its no more valuable than daves down in the pubs after 10 pints

 

[wheelo]

The BBC sponsored him to talk about human rights abuses in Qatar during the world cup - That was hardly impartial, now was it?
The BBC chief "arranged a loan " for £8M for Boris, how can he ever claim impartiality?
Is impartiality only a necessity when the Tory party seem to be running scared of not being re-elected?
There were comments by one of your cabinet ministers that Lineker (BBC) should only report/follow public opinion - No it shouldn't, the Beeb should ask the questions so that people question themselves then make up their own mindsl

If anyone likes podcasts, listen to Tuesday's (I think) News agents it delved into this at length and I think put forward very good arguments from both sides.

It's not about asylum seekers tho, is it,?
These people are economicmigrants that come to the UK illegally,
If it was up to me I'd let the RN shoot them while they are still in the water, that would stop the next lot

You're an economic migrant lol Now while you may have a certain skillset that makes you attractive to other economies, and do everything legit, you still travel for work.

BTW, that is me just being funny Steptoe :)

 

[stuss]

I Fly * crash drones, less political

 

[Taylerlee]

Should be applauded for his comments. Am not a fan of his but he has gone up in my estimation. The government proposals have rightly been castigated by every human rights organisation.

I am appalled that you think Linekar should be applauded for comparing the governments current plan with the actions of the Nazis. You are referring to the Holacaust are you serious? I believe in free speech but when you represent a national public funded organisation and you are the face of BBC Sport this must be a breach of contract.

 

[pabloescaban]

I am appalled that you think Linekar should be applauded for comparing the governments current plan with the actions of the Nazis. You are referring to the Holacaust are you serious? I believe in free speech but when you represent a national public funded organisation and you are the face of BBC Sport this must be a breach of contract.

As soon as someone compares someone or some group to Hitler or the Nazis into any argument they have already lost and conceded defeat.
Godwin's law 1, Lineker 0

"when a Hitler comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever made the comparison loses whatever debate is in progress."

 

[Corby]

Absolutely spot on @Taylerlee Linekar is a champagne socialist who’s pushed his agenda just to far. The BBC should either give him the boot or face their own sanctions regarding partiality rules.

 

[steptoe]

Now while you may have a certain skillset

What I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare

 

[Kurdt Kobain]

Gary Linekar has set himself up as an outspoken critic of the Governments immigration policy in respect of the small boat crisis. Whilst doing this he is a very, very highly paid (over paid?) presenter on the publicly funded BBC. I personally believe in free speech but would be critical of Linekar whichever side of the argument he was on, In my opinion his contract should be terminated immediately.
Background - The Match of the Day host had said the language setting out the plan was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". This is from a man contracted to the BBC an organisation purporting to promote impartiality - sack him!

Lineker is every bit as impartial as most BBC and ITV news broadcasters who take the right wing anti socialist stance vs. ordinary worker's democratic right to strike for better pay and conditions.

Ask yourself why not if you haven't similarly demanded their sackings.

 

[steptoe]

Lineker is every bit as impartial as most BBC and ITV news broadcasters who take the right wing anti socialist stance vs. ordinary worker's democratic right to strike for better pay and conditions.

Ask yourself why not if you haven't similarly demanded their sackings.

How can you say someone is rightwing if they support bogus asylum seekers,?
The right wing don't even want proper asylum seekers,
and these are neither, simply economic migrants travelling to the UK to live on benefits, which nobody in their right minds should want.

 

[grog68]

Lineker is every bit as impartial as most BBC and ITV news broadcasters who take the right wing anti socialist stance vs. ordinary worker's democratic right to strike for better pay and conditions.

Ask yourself why not if you haven't similarly demanded their sackings.

It's funny how those on the left think BBC are right wing, while those on the right think the BBC is left wing. Can't be both.

 

[pupuqiop]

Interesting development today, Lineker taken off MOTD for discussions on his social media activity. Ian Wright has also withdrawn from MOTD in solidarity.

Ian Wright to miss Match of the Day after Gary Lineker is suspended – live

 

[Kurdt Kobain]

How can you say someone is rightwing if they support bogus asylum seekers,?
The right wing don't even want proper asylum seekers,
and these are neither, simply economic migrants travelling to the UK to live on benefits, which nobody in their right minds should want.

Unsure who you're referring to.