- This topic has 90 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 11 months ago by
.
- Posts
While I agree that current affairs journalists at the BBC should appear as impartial as possible, I struggle to see why it’s a big problem for a sports/entertainment presenter to express political opinions in a personal capacity.
However, if that is what Lineker has agreed to so that he can receive his vast salary, then he should abide by it or renegotiate. His conduct does give the impression that he thinks he is beyond reproach.
If he wants to express his view then he should have the same right to do so as anyone on here , whether you agree it not it’s 2023 not 1923
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
HDLG, if he has previously agreed to not express political views in exchange for his huge BBC pay cheque, then he should honour his contract or renegotiate (which may now be happening).
Marlingford we have free speech in the UK …do you not agree with free speech ….
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Chezza won’t be watching MOTD tomorrow night in solidarity.
“But you never watch it, anyway, Chezza.”
Chezza: “Hush.”
PS: I think Clare Balding is an atrocious person – whose entire career reeks of privilege and nepotism – and her crass, insensitive, personal comment to Liam Treadwell at what ought to have been the happiest moment of his difficult life sums her up as a human being, frankly.
But two wrongs don’t make a right, so I wouldn’t want to be associated with equally personal remarks about her appearance.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Liam never held a grudge against Clare about her comment. She regretted saying it herself and, from what I know of her she was probably pretty upset about it.
HDLG, as I’ve said above, I don’t think BBC sports/entertainment presenters such as Lineker should need to remain impartial on a personal level.
But Lineker agreed to remain impartial in exchange for a huge amount of money. A choice made of his own free will. He should honour his employment terms or renegotiate them in my view. Hopefully he will achieve the latter.
I also think current affairs journalists employed by the BBC should give the impression of being impartial. If you want to interpret that as meaning that I disagree with free speech I can’t stop you, though nothing could be further from the truth. I think having an unbiased news outlet that reports factual information without any political slant is incredibly important.
So the amount of money you make effects the level of your freedom of speech , Marlingford do you genuinely believe that all the staff at the BBC are impartial , the man at the top isn’t is he …cough…loan…cough
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Of course nobody is really impartial HDLG, we all have our own views. But a good journalist should be able to put their views aside and report factually when required. How impartial the BBC actually is is a whole other conversation!
Masterstroke by Wright and Shearer. The MotD chairs tomorrow are becoming a less attractive proposition by the minute.
If Lineker goes, they’ll have to get rid of a lot more than just him. Surely Conservative Peer Karren Brady can’t be on The Apprentice. Don’t know if Portillo still does his Railway programmes but he’s out. I could go on.
Absolutely spineless by the BBC, Lineker and Attenborough ‘cancelled’ to use one of ‘the right’s’ favourite terms. Meanwhile we get nothing more than a brief apology for Fiona Bruce’s disgraceful trivialisation of domestic violence.
Have to say though it’s great entertainment watching this decision come crashing down around them. Even Sky is behind Lineker and co.
Hopefully it’s the beginning of the end of the broadcasting dinosaur
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
But Stanley only broke his ex wife’s nose once, Richard….which is surely perfectly acceptable.
It amuses me how the BBC totally ties itself up in knots with these things, and then reports very earnestly on them too (MOTD is currently their lead news story).
From “The Guardian” (which I think we can agree is not “right wing”):
“One problem for Davie was that Lineker is employed on a fixed contract, meaning he is not on the BBC’s staff. As a result, he is covered by a specific rule in the impartiality guidelines – labelled the ‘Lineker clause’ by BBC staff – which states that some individuals have an additional responsibility to the BBC because of their high profile.
The rules state: ‘We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters.'”
If that is the contract Lineker has agreed with the BBC, it is quite clear his comments breached that rule.
Everything else is a separate issue and not directly relevant.
Do these rules include the top man ….I think he may have broken them himself , it looks like MOTD tom night will be hosted by Gordon the Gopher and Mr Blobby ..
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.