14 March 2023 , 12:52
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This Morning’s Phillip Schofield defended Gary Lineker in the wake of the BBC ’s impartiality row which saw the broadcaster confirm he would return to present Match of the Day.
BBC director general Tim Davie announced an independent review will be carried out on social media guidelines after Lineker was taken off air after tweeted criticism of the government's new asylum policy.
The weekend football coverage on the BBC faced major disruption amid staff walkouts due to Lineker's suspension and he has now thanked his colleagues for their ‘incredible support’.
This Morning discussed the latest developments in the row, with hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby speaking to guest journalists Mathew Wright and Camilla Tominey.
Camilla insisted the asylum policy was a ‘priority of the public’, saying: “Regardless of what the Twitterati might make you think, people who are not living in the communities the likes of Gary Lineker lives in are seeing a huge –”
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Matthew cut in to point out that Lineker had taken in two Ukrainian refugees (ITV)Fellow guest Matthew then cut in to point out that Lineker had taken in two Ukrainian refugees at his Surrey home in the wake of Russia ’s invasion of the country last year.
Camilla replied: “That’s fine. I don't think Gary Lineker on a daily basis has a first hand knowledge of for instance being on a housing list.”
However, host Phil then jumped in to defend the star, as he said: “I always think it’s interesting with papers – the minute anybody has got a nice house or had a nice job or they do that, they suddenly become covered in cotton wool and are unaware of the outside world.”
Lineker will return to present Match of the Day (Getty Images)He added: “It’s happened so many times – Gary Lineker, he lives in his costly house, so how could he know? He’s taken two Ukrainian refugees,” Matthew agreed saying: “It's more than most people have.”
Camilla insisted: “But I get that. What he’s saying in that tweet is that people who are concerned about illegal immigration – because they see it on their own doorsteps and they see their own seaside hotels overtaken by a number of migrants being housed – then being liked to people in operating 1930s Germany.”
Matthew hit back pointing out Lineker stressed the similarity was in the government’s language, to which Camilla told him not to be ‘purposefully naive’.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.