Gary Lineker faces backlash from Tory MPs over human rights award
Gary Lineker has come beneath criticism from Tory MPs after it emerged he’s set to obtain an award for his activism.
The Match of the Day Host will settle for the Sport and Human Rights gong at a ceremony in Rome on Wednesday.
The award is a part of a collaboration between Amnesty International and Italian organisation Sport4Society to focus on excellent contributions to human rights within the discipline of sport.
Amnesty International described the previous England footballer as a “staunch advocate for the rights of refugees and migrants”.
But the BBC presenter – who sparked controversy in March by taking to Twitter to assault the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill and examine language used to that of Thirties Germany – is going through a backlash from Conservative MPs.
READ MORE: BBC licence fee being looked at ‘very closely’ as Lineker snubbed
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay stated: “It is another self-congratulatory fest of one woke group to another woke activist.”
Senior Tory Gareth Johnson stated: “Gary Lineker must determine if he needs 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 regret, but also rather pathetic.
“Perhaps it’s time for Gary to hold up his microphone as he did his boots way back.”
Mr Lineker will collect his award alongside footballer Natali Shaheen, the former Palestine captain currently playing for FC Athena Sassari in the Italian five-a-side league Calcio a 5.
Just months ago, the 62-year-old was at the centre of a BBC impartiality row over his tweets condemning the Government’s proposed legislation to stop small boats.
In early March, the former England striker retweeted a Home Office video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman promoted new laws to end Channel crossings and said: “Good heavens, that is past terrible.”
In a response to a social media user, the football pundit then wrote: “There isn’t any big inflow. We take far fewer refugees than different main European nations.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s.”
Mr Lineker was taken off air by the BBC, however returned to his Match of the Day presenting function following a boycott by fellow on-air expertise.
The BBC has since launched an impartial evaluation of its social media steering for freelancers.
Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast later in March, Mr Lineker stated he was “bewildered” by the “disproportionate” response to his intervention.
He stated: “I like the BBC. I’ve been there for almost 30 years however individuals make errors, they recognise that they usually addressed it and ultimately, fortunately, we’re all again to work.”
The BBC has been contacted for remark.