BBC urged to explain why Gary Lineker is 'restrained but Alan Sugar seems not to be'

BBC blasted for being 'inconsistent' with its rules

A former head of the BBC has said the broadcaster is "inconsistent" in applying its impartiality guidelines, and has questioned why Gary Lineker appears to be "restrained but Alan Sugar and Co seem not to be".

The corporation said Friday that the former footballer would be “stepping back” from his hosting role on the football highlights show, Match of the Day (MOTD), until they found an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media. The 62-year-old sent a tweet critical of the government and has been embroiled in a row over impartiality ever since.

In response to a Home Office video – in which home secretary Suella Braverman shared plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats – Lineker wrote that the language used was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”. He later insisted he stood by the tweet, which led to the BBC taking him off air. The controversy has had a domino effect with a raft of presenters, pundits and commentators standing down in solidarity with Lineker, forcing the BBC to cancel, or amend, a host of sports shows.

Roger Mosey, previously the Head of BBC Television News, questioned how his former employer was applying its guidelines to Lineker in a thread on Twitter on Saturday.

He acknowledged that Lineker's tweets "weren't compliant with editorial guidelines", but said the broadcaster had been "inconsistent" in the way it applied them, and to whom, over the years.

"Their statement about not wanting Lineker to be 'an opinion-free-zone' is an example of murkiness," he explained.

Mosey went on to add: "But most crucially now, by removing Lineker from MOTD, it looks like the BBC has given in to one side of the culture war."

He said this is "intensified" by the presence on the BBC board of government appointees, "most notably the chairman".

Mosey, the Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, concluded his thread by suggesting that BBC chairman, Richard Sharp, "should go" as he "damages the BBC's credibility", and that Lineker should "stay within clear, agreed guidelines".

Sharp has been accused of helping to facilitate a £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson, shortly before being appointed as chairman. "Ideally, Lineker should stay within clear, agreed guidelines," Mosey said.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey backed Mosey's call on Sharp, saying: "This saga has shown failure at the very top of the BBC and the dire need to urgently protect their independence.

"We need leadership at the BBC that upholds our proud British values and can withstand today's consistently turbulent politics and Conservative bullying tactics.

"Sadly, under Richard Sharp's leadership, this has not been the case: his appointment and position are now totally untenable and he must resign."

Mosey said the broadcaster should also make its executives available to explain how they "intend to resolve this crisis".

The BBC on Saturday apologised for disruption to its sports scheduling this weekend, adding it is "working hard to resolve the situation" and also apologised to its staff, Sky News reported.