Gary Lineker hits again at Tory MPs attacking him over ‘woke’ human rights award

May 26, 2023 at 12:20 PM

Gary Lineker has hit again at criticism from Tory MPs over his human rights award.

The Match of the Day host accepted the Sport and Human Rights gong at a ceremony in Rome on Wednesday for “his strong commitment towards immigration and human rights issues”.

Mr Lineker had come beneath hearth from Conservative MPs over the award, which is a part of a collaboration between Amnesty International and the Italian organisation Sport4Society.

It comes simply months after he slammed the Government’s unlawful immigration crackdown in a collection of tweets.

But hitting again at criticism from Tory MPs in feedback reported by The Guardian, the BBC‘s highest-paid star stated: “I am for freedom of speech.

“But in my experience of freedom of speech, particularly the people who campaign for freedom of speech, they’re all for it until they disagree with what you’re saying, and I think that’s always important to remember.”

Ahead of the awards ceremony, South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay described it as “one other self-congratulatory fest of 1 woke group to a different woke activist”.

Senior Tory Gareth Johnson said: “Gary Lineker must resolve if he desires to be a politician or a public broadcaster. He cannot do each.”

Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs, added: “This award is a matter of remorse, but in addition relatively pathetic.

“Perhaps it is time for Gary to hang up his microphone as he did his boots long ago.”

Mr Lineker sparked a BBC impartiality row in March after taking to Twitter to slam the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill and evaluate language used to that of Nineteen Thirties Germany.

He was taken off air by the BBC amid requires him to be sacked, however returned to his Match of the Day presenting function following a boycott by fellow expertise.

Speaking on Wednesday, the soccer pundit known as for “compassion, empathy and kindness” in direction of refugees.

He stated: “What I was trying to say was that I think we need to be careful with the language we use towards people who have to flee their countries, because of persecution, because of war and possibly climate change, and I think we need to show them compassion, empathy and kindness.”

In early March, the previous England striker retweeted a Home Office video during which Home Secretary Suella Braverman promoted new legal guidelines to finish Channel crossings and stated: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”

In a response to a social media consumer, the soccer pundit then wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

“This is simply an immeasurably merciless coverage directed on the most weak folks in language that isn’t dissimilar to that utilized by Germany within the ’30s.”