Gary Lineker's reply to ITV News' tweet breaches BBC guidelines, future chairman says
ITV News' Martha Fairlie looks into the spat between Gary Lineker and Grant Shapps and whether the sports commentator's remarks could have been in breach of BBC guidelines
Gary Lineker’s recent reply to an ITV News tweet appears to breach the BBC’s social media guidelines, the government’s candidate for chairman of the corporation has said.
The former England footballer hit back at Grant Shapps after the defence secretary questioned whether the Match Of The Day host should express political views.
Lineker was among a group of celebrities to sign a letter calling for the government to scrap its Rwanda scheme and for political leaders to come up with a “fair new plan for refugees”.
A previous Twitter scandal involving Lineker led to the BBC strengthening social media guidelines for staff on issues of impartiality and civility.
Samir Shah, the BBC's incoming chairman, said he did not think it was “helpful” that Lineker had signed the letter, but did not see that as a breach of the rules.
However, he said he did think Lineker’s subsequent tweets were a breach.
After Mr Shapps said Lineker should stick to football and stop “meddling” in other matters, Lineker posted a photograph of Mr Shapps with his name under it alongside three more images of the politician with the names Michael Green, Corinne Stockheath and Sebastian Fox used instead.
Lineker wrote: “A tad rich coming from someone who can’t even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps.”
Mr Shapps was previously accused of breaching the code of conduct for ministers and MPs by continuing to work as a marketer of get-rich-quick schemes under the pseudonym Michael Green after entering Parliament.
He has also been accused of using the pseudonyms Sebastian Fox and Corinne Stockheath.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to be drawn on the row over Gary Lineker.
It comes after the government’s candidate for chairman of the corporation said his recent tweets about politicians appear to breach the BBC’s social media guidelines.
Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a school in north London, the prime minister said: “These are matters for the BBC, which is operationally obviously independent of Government.
“The BBC has rules on impartiality and it is right that they are upheld, but ultimately that is a question for the BBC.”
Speaking to MPs at a pre-appointment hearing, Mr Shah said: “I don’t think it was very helpful either for Gary Lineker or the BBC or the cause he supports because it becomes a story about Gary Lineker and the BBC.”
He added: “As far as I’m aware, the signing of the letter did not breach those guidelines.
“But the more recent tweet in which he identifies a politician does, on the face of it, seem to breach those guidelines.
“I’m not sure how egregious it is but I imagine the BBC is looking into it and considering its response.”
Lineker has also hit out at Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis, who accused Lineker of breaching the BBC’s impartiality rules.
He wrote on social media: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines… or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”
Asked what he would do about the situation if he was chairman of the BBC, Mr Shah said: “I think it’s our duty to monitor and see how well guidelines are delivering their purpose.”
He added that he would invite Director-General Tim Davie to “interrogate quite forcibly” if the social media guidelines were delivering what they intend to do.
Mr Shah continued: “I do think we need to find a solution to this because it doesn’t help anyone and it does damage the reputation of the BBC if we are constantly in this round, not just with this particular presenter or not.
“The BBC’s reputation matters and this isn’t helpful and we do need to find a solution to it and if I were to be chair I would be keen to bring about a solution.”
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