Gary Lineker's tweet

ExperiencedNotOld

Do you not consider how easy it is for the ‘high profile people’ to tweet or make opinion from the comfort of their gated mansion? It’s not their opinion that should matter, it should be that of the ordinary person, who life will be blighted by the influx of people, unable to afford an accountant to avoid any increase in tax necessary to deal with the problem.

Blighted?

A foreign surgeon saved my life.
A foreign oncologist made sure my cancer didn't return.
A foreign gynaecologist delivered my daughter.
A foreign GP helped me access hospital care recently when I had a shingles abscess.
A foreign teacher is currently teaching my grandson to read.

If by blighted you mean benefitted, I agree.

Fleurpepper

He didn't make a statement, he asked a question. And Gary is working class- I used to buy my fruit and veg from his stall at the market, sometimes his dad, sometimes himself.

It was his father's stall, Gary helped out.

If he'd listened to his teacher he might be running the stall himself now:

A teacher said on his report card: “Concentrates too much on football - will never make a living at that.”

That reminds me of when a football scout came and told all the boys (and a very talented girl) that it was a choice - either football or concentrate on your GCSEs and A levels. 😲
The parents were cross because they thought it sent out the wrong message.

Does anybody know about the protocols for a Nikah ceremony? My daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law are holding one in a few weeks. I guess it would be rude to tell my future son-in-law that he and his family are blighting our lives.

Dinahmo

I suspect that many of the refugees who come to the UK already have some qualifications for a variety of jobs but whilst stuck in the camps don't have the chance to mention them until their applications are processed which can take years.

westendgirl Sadly, It seems to me that the race/immigration subject is going to be just as divisive as Brexit. I think that is what the govt wants - to deflect from all the other problems facing the country at the moment.

Yep! That's exactly what it's doing.

He is correct I agree with every word and anyone who doesn’t realise that is heartless and a racist

growstuff

Does anybody know about the protocols for a Nikah ceremony? My daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law are holding one in a few weeks. I guess it would be rude to tell my future son-in-law that he and his family are blighting our lives.

I know my friend and all the women had their hands hennaed when her son got married, she found it very intriguing 🙂

I think the freedom of speech argument is quite complex. If you are happy with Gary Linneker saying this then you also need to be happy with a well known BBC broadcaster saying they support the policy.

Galaxy

I think the freedom of speech argument is quite complex. If you are happy with Gary Linneker saying this then you also need to be happy with a well known BBC broadcaster saying they support the policy.

It doesn’t make the freedom of speech argument complex at all Galaxy. It makes no difference whatsoever to Gary Linekar’s role as a football pundit if he has a view about this as far as I can see, as it doesn’t compromise what he does? If he was hosting a political debate programme then it would be potentially compromising, and I could understand why that wouldn’t be acceptable.

Galaxy

I think the freedom of speech argument is quite complex. If you are happy with Gary Linneker saying this then you also need to be happy with a well known BBC broadcaster saying they support the policy.

Thank you Galaxy
I totally agree. I don’t think that many people have read my posts about the BBC.
That is the problem - not what he has actually said

I think that might be ok in theory, but I just wonder how people would feel if say David Attenborough (no idea if he is a BBC employee but you get the gist) was saying this is an excellent policy, I fully agree with Braverman. Often people use the free speech debate if they agree with the sentiment it's sometimes not so easy when you dont.

Casdon it’s not because of his role, it’s about how he is paid

Attenborough absolutely is on the books.

FannyCornforth

Casdon it’s not because of his role, it’s about how he is paid

But if you follow that route FC nobody in any public facing role would be able to express a personal opinion about anything. That way lies totalitarianism.

I suspect it's unlikely Attenborough would say that but if you support linekers freedom to say this you have to deal with the possibility of a national treasure supporting the policy.
Now I am pretty much supportive of all freedom of speech bar libel and slander but that does mean I know there will be some horrific speech that I and others have to cope with.

Many organisations have rules about speech particularly on social media casdon, that ship sailed long ago whether I agree with it or not.

It wouldn’t matter to me if any ‘national treasure’ supported the policy though Galaxy, that is their right. I’d think they were a d… head, but I wouldn’t agree with them being silenced.

I’ve been listening to Radio 4 on this just now, and it is indeed very complicated.
In particular regards freelance v contract; and also the Beeb’s rules v those of Ofcom.

If its wrong for Lineker to have an opinion because WE pay his wages is it also wrong for the head of the BBC to give hundreds of thousands to the tory party when we also pay HIS wages .....just asking!

This from 2020.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54723282

I don't want him to be sacked. I can't stand him but that's irrelevant.

I do wonder what the Beeb will do though. He's been reprimanded before. Maybe the BBC will just have to tear up the clause in the contract.

Casdon, yes, you are right.
This is making my head spin now!
It’s far beyond my pay grade, so I'm going to give it no further thought until further notice

You made really relevant points Fanny. I think if we as a society believe in free speech then we have to commit to it as a whole, we cant just expect organisations such as the BBC or Gransnet to take a stand on their own I dont think, it has to be a commitment as a society as a whole.

They pay him as a football pundit. Lineker did not use his programme or any appearance on the Beeb to put his POV. He did not, for example, take up the invite to appear on BBC R4 World at 1.

Yes if a "national treasure" were to support the policies then I support their right to do so too.
That's as long a its NOT an incitement to hatred. Lineker's comment was not that.

Its not the first time a footballer has stood up to the government - Marcus Rashford and school meals?

paddyann54 share your sentiments but what happened was the week before he was appointed head of BBC he "introduced* a contact to lend the money, and lo and behold a week later got the job.

I think the Beeb will need to revise terms and conditions, which would include current head of BBC's doubtful route into the job!

Who gets to decide the incitement to hatred bit then? Can I decide that?
Taking money off a country that stones gay people to death is in my view incitement to hatred.

The guidelines say, as far as I can see ‘if your work requires you to maintain your impartiality…’. I can’t see what, in Lineker’s role, could require that. He’s not a news reporter, or a political analyst, or anything similar. It would be like saying an actor, making a programne commissioned by the BBC from a third party production company, not to have an opinion - clearly inappropriate.

Galaxy

Who gets to decide the incitement to hatred bit then? Can I decide that?
Taking money off a country that stones gay people to death is in my view incitement to hatred.

Don’t we still sell arms to Saudi Arabia*?That doesn’t seem to make the headlines.
* and probably also to other war torn countries that these people are fleeing from.