Unending Animosity Between Politicians and Public Broadcaster

Michael Hedges March 13, 2023 Follow on Twitter

Public broadcasters may be loved by listeners and viewers. Independence and reasonably robust funding has engendered a creative culture producing popular fare. Politicians of a certain stripe, though, prefer obedience and no criticism. Flashpoints appear in the most unusual ways.

Sports programs were absent from BBC radio and television channels on Saturday and continuing through Sunday. This meant no football, except for those brave enough to venture out to live venues. In a statement, the BBC said it would be offering “limited sport programming” as it is “working hard to resolve the situation.”

The situation was - and continues to be - a torrent of outrage about top BBC sports anchor Gary Lineker being suspended (March 10) over a social media post critical of the immigration policy of the Conservative Party. BBC news and current affairs employees are contractually obligated to maintain impartiality. Others, such as sports broadcasters, are not so restrained. Mr. Lineker did not, notably, express the opinions on-air.

UK public broadcaster BBC has been criticized and squeezed by the right-wing Conservative Party for decades. Appearing insufficiently joyful about the UK exit from the European Union - Brexit - only created more pressure and threats. A sequence of BBC chairpersons and directors generally appointed by and aligned with the Conservative Party has underscored the intention to bring the BBC to heel.

Earlier last week (March 7) UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman introduced in the House of Commons a bill that would “refuse the right to asylum to people arriving via irregular migration,” reported Vox (March 11). “Irregular migration” refers to small boats. The proposed law would subject migrants arriving in the UK to deportation “to Rwanda” without the possibility of asylum. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) immediately criticized the proposal as “a clear breach” of international law.

Gary Lineker has hosted Match of the Day on BBC 1 since 1999. Before that he was a star international footballer. He is considered at the top of his game and top of his profession. And he’s a nice guy, “never a yellow card,” noted Le Monde (March 12). He has occasionally spoken out on controversial issues but last week was more than an occasion. “This is simply an incredibly cruel political measure that targets the most vulnerable people, in language not much different from what was used in Germany in the 1930s,” wrote Mr. Lineker on social media (March 7). “And am I the one who has gone out of tune?” He has eight and a half million followers on Twitter.

On Friday (March 10) Mr. Lineker was “suspended” from services to the BBC. “We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines,” said the unsigned the statement, reported by CNN (March 11). “The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.” It is unclear who, exactly, at the BBC issued the directive.

Mr. Lineker is under contract with BBC Sports through 2025. The sports division is separate from the news and current affairs division and its rules on social media usage are less stringent. Alan Sugar, regular host of the UK version of game show The Apprentice broadcast on the BBC, quite often expresses right-wing views, seemingly without repercussion. Just as an aside: Donald Trump hosted the US version of the show for several years, creating a lasting star. US network severed its relationships in 2015 with the show and Mr. Trump, citing “derogatory statements” made by Mr. Trump about immigrants as he began his presidential campaign, reported NBC News (March 10). After Mr. Trump lost the 2020 election Rupert Murdoch, principal owner of News Corp and Fox Corp, “kicked around” buying the show from rights holder Mark Burnett. It didn’t happen. "Having second thoughts, Trump would turn it into a full-time campaign vehicle. Would kill it,” said The Elder Mr. Murdoch in recently revealed court documents. Small world, right?

The reaction by BBC Sports commentators and hosts was swift and blunt. Effectively, all Saturday football shows were either cancelled or broadcast in abbreviated form without commentary. Pre-game Football Focus with Alex Scott was replaced Saturday with antique-buying show Bargain Hunt, illustrative of the direction the right-wing populist party masters expect the BBC to take. Sports World on BBC World Service was replaced Saturday with non-sports features. Premiere League players said they would not give BBC interviews on Saturday. Employees across the BBC were already distressed by program and staff reductions due to government imposed financial freeze. Fans on hand for the Leicester City - Chelsea match Saturday, reported the Guardian (March 11), were seen holding signs saying “I’m with Gary. Migrants welcome.” The Sunday sports schedule was much the same.

In a statement Saturday from Director General Tim Davie the word impartiality was tossed about with reckless abandon. Impartiality is a Conservative Party code word for no criticism on the BBC. He apologized for disrupting fans’ viewing pleasure in an interview with the BBC (March 11). When asked if Mr. Lineker would have been suspended for supporting Minister Braverman’s migrant bill, Mr. Davie smirked, noted NME (March 12). “I’m not going to go through all the hypotheticals.”

Of course, the story is not simply about sports. Right-wing culture wars in the UK have created volatility, falling onto the lap of the BBC, long symbolic of British quality and virtue. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking late Saturday, defended the immigration policy, laying the whole Linekar episode on Mr. Davie then flying off to southern California for in important meeting about submarines.

All parties were tight lipped on Sunday. BBC officials said negotiations were “inching forward,” reported the Independent (March 12). Mr. Lineker said only “I can’t say anything.” Monday will come around, everybody refreshed by appropriate advice from the communications consultants. “Seems to be a victory for the UK Conservative Party,” offered Berlin daily Tagesspiegel (March 11). “Because in the end, the BBC is weakened either way and no one talks about the government's asylum policy anymore.”

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