Just been listening to a show of right leaning commentators suggesting that they didn’t think lineker would be able to get away with his comments even if he worked for sky due to reputation clauses …
They managed the politicise the host position of MOTD in their efforts to appear ‘balanced’, good job.
I think this is one of those times when the wealth of the pundits and the fact that some of them freelance for other channels allows them to take a principled stance on this. I also think that the way that the BBC is showing that it most definitely isn’t impartial in political matters, people might want to withhold their licence money.
If I was Lineker, I’d be tempted to just resign now. He’s stood by his principles, refused to retract and apologise and then put the record straight when the BBC suggested it was a mutual decision to ‘step back’. He was going to have to call it a day on MOTD soon enough - and this is a pretty good hill to die on for his reputation. He’d be able to pick up some work with Amazon Prime/DAZN/TNT if he wanted to.
Is this the right wing doing a version of the “forced equity” that so many right wing types like to complain about? Leading to the bbc to strive so hard for impartiality that they cannot say anything at all? I’m sure there are comedy sketches like this. Feels like something Mitchell and Webb or Fry and Laurie have done
Is this another example of the Tories getting what they want ? Like with the nhs - cut it to the bone so everyone is more willing to accept privatisation. In this case they want to scale back the bbc and if a chunk of people walk away and don’t pay the licence fee they get what they want
“ The BBC have decided that MOTD highlights will be screened without commentary, and with any anti-BBC or pro-Lineker crowd chants bleeped out.”
