09 March 2023 , 23:10
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Richard Madeley has spoken out in support of Gary Lineker - despite branding his comments "stupid".
The football commentator came under fire from the Tories after he compared the proposed government policy for immigration to Germany in the 1930s. At the time, he wrote a tweet: "There is no huge influx.
"We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. 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."
Gary later took to Twitter and said he was "happy that this ridiculously out-of-proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting Match Of The Day on Saturday".
Gary Lineker thanked fans for their support earlier today (SplashNews.com)However, talk has continued about what happened - with Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley weighing in.
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Speaking on BBC 's Question Time, he said: "Clearly if he was a political journalist, political presenter or interview in any of the areas of the BBC that we’re talking about, like Newsnight, then clearly he shouldn’t have made those comments.
"Those comments would be a dereliction of duty and deeply compromising to his programme, to himself, future interviews and of course to the BBC which is publicly funded by us. But he’s a sports presenter; he talks about football and games and tactics, and headers and corners and referees and league tables and all the rest of it."
He added: "And quite how having [not having the right to have] the freedom of speech on – not even on any of his programmes – but on his Twit ter page, to say anything he likes within in the law, escapes me."
Richard defended Gary (BBC)Richard went on to say it was "preposterous" to "muzz and muffle" Gary over his comment and slammed calls for him to be sacked.
However, he did say the comment was a 'stupid' one to make, as he should have known that comparing the Conservative government or any other government in Europe to the Nazis was offensive.
"It’s an insult to the minorities and the Jewish nation who were subject to acts of genocide by the then German dictatorship," he added during a conversation on the BBC show, hosted by Fiona Bruce.
His initial tweet received a mixed response with Downing Street later describing the comments as "not acceptable" and "disappointing" – with some urging the presenter to be axed from the BBC for appearing to break the guidelines on impartiality.