Gary Lineker: Emily Maitlis points out hypocrisy in BBC response

The Match of the Day host compared the government to Nazi Germany

Gary Lineker has been backed by Emily Maitlis after the BBC said it was going to have a “frank conversation” with him following his criticism of the government’s asylum plan.

The Match of the Day host compared the Conservative government’s plans to Nazi Germany leading to criticism from prominent Tory MP’s and accusations that Lineker had breached the broadcaster’s impartiality rules.

Maitlis, who previously presented Newsnight for the BBC, pointed to the hypocrisy of Lineker being allowed to air his political views on Qatar’s human rights record during the World Cup but not issues at home: “Curious that @GaryLineker was free to raise questions about Qatar’s human rights record – with the blessing of the bbc – over the World Cup , but cannot raise questions of human rights in this country if it involves criticism of government policy…”

The broadcaster also retweeted Lineker’s post thanking fans for their support which said: “I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly). I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot. I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all.”

Since leaving the BBC in 2021, Maitlis has been critical of the organisation’s willingness to back down over complaints from the government over their political coverage.

Maitlis was reprimanded in 2020 by the BBC for her interview with Dominic Cummings which the broadcaster said did not meet their standards for “impartiality” after the then government advisor appeared to break lockdown rules.

She left the BBC at the end of 2021 to join LBC for the podcast The News Agents which she co-hosts with Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.