Who does the BBC serve? Lineker row revives impartiality debate about British broadcaster

BBC sportscaster likened the UK’s asylum policy to 1930s Germany, resulting in his brief suspension

Controversy revived debate about how the public-funded British national broadcaster is run

Reading Time:4 minutes

The BBC has come under repeated criticism in recent years from politicians of all stripes, for perceived bias. File photo: dpa

Published: 7:00am, 18 Mar 2023Updated: 7:23am, 18 Mar 2023

Gary Lineker will be back presenting the BBC’s flagship sports programme on Saturday, a week after the former England footballer was suspended for using Twitter to criticise the UK government’s migration policy.

The turnabout followed a huge backlash against BBC management, which took action after 62-year-old Lineker publicly expressed his opinion about a UK political issue. Lineker, a freelance broadcaster and the BBC’s highest-paid star, had compared the British government’s language about asylum seekers to the rhetoric of 1930s Germany.

This week, the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie apologised for “a difficult period” and said that Lineker was a valued part of the BBC. He said impartiality was important to the BBC and that there would be an independent review of its social media policy.

Match of the Day host Lineker said: “Glad that we have found a way forward.”

Football presenter Gary Lineker outside his home in London. Photo: Reuters

The statements drew a line under the issue, but the political furore was far from settled. The Lineker-BBC controversy has revived debate about how the public-funded British national broadcaster is run, amid claims from the UK opposition and other observers the BBC was pressured to suspend Lineker.

Some Conservative lawmakers said the BBC should sack him.

Who does the BBC serve? Lineker row revives impartiality debate about British broadcaster

BBC sportscaster likened the UK’s asylum policy to 1930s Germany, resulting in his brief suspension Controversy revived debate about how the public-funded British national broadcaster is run

BBC sportscaster likened the UK’s asylum policy to 1930s Germany, resulting in his brief suspension

Controversy revived debate about how the public-funded British national broadcaster is run