Tag Archives: Politics

BBC ‘Caved To Tory Pressure’ By Axing Gary Lineker, Says Labour’s Rachel Reeves

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The BBC “bowed to pressure” from the Tories by axing Gary Lineker from Match of the Day, Rachel Reeves has said.

The shadow chancellor said the corporation should reverse its decision, which triggered a mass revolt which threw its sports coverage into chaos.

Reeves also pointed out that BBC chairman Richard Sharp, who has donated huge sums to the Conservatives, has kept his job despite his role in Boris Johnson securing a loan of up to £800,000.

The BBC announced on Friday that Lineker was “stepping back” from presenting Match of the Day this weekend over a tweet criticising the government’s migrant crackdown.

He said some of the language being used by ministers was like “Germany in the 1930s”.

On Sky News this morning, Reeves said: “Whether you agree with Gary Lineker’s tweets or not, and I wouldn’t have used that language, I think that it is perfectly reasonable that you can present the football commentary on the BBC at a weekend.”

Referring to Richard Sharp, she added: “He is still in his job. Gary Lineker isn’t able to present the football commentary? I think there is a sense of proportionality here.

“The Tories obviously put a huge amount of pressure on the government to get rid of Gary Lineker, I don’t remember those same Tory MPs crying about impartiality when those revelations about Richard Sharp came out.”

Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg on BBC One, Reeves said: “The BBC have clearly come under immense pressure from the Conservative Party to take Gary Lineker off air.

“I think it is a shame that the BBC has bowed to that pressure. I would urge the BBC to reconsider this decision, because I think it has now gone totally out of proportion.”

Meanwhile, Lineker’s son, George, has said his dad will not back down over the row.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “Dad is a good man, a good human, and I’m proud of him for standing by his word. That’s why he was pulled off the show – because he wouldn’t apologise. But he will always speak up for people who don’t have a voice.

“He is passionate about helping refugee charities – he took in two refugees who he is still in touch with and trying to help.

“It means a lot to him to stand up for people whose only hope is to escape a country with only the clothes on their back. That’s why he’s been so firm.

“Will he go back to Match of the Day? I think so – he loves Match of the Day. But he won’t ever back down on his word.”

BBC director general Tim Davie, who took the decision to suspend Lineker, said he was seeking a resolution to the dispute, but insisted he will not resign over his handling of the affair.

He said: “I think my job is to serve licence fee payers and deliver a BBC that is really focused on world-class, impartial landmark output – and I look forward to resolving this situation and looking forward to delivering that.”

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A Cabinet Minister Tried To Criticise Gary Lineker But Scored A Massive Own Goal

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A cabinet minister tried to use the Gary Lineker row to attack Labour – but only ended up scoring a massive own goal.

Penny Mordaunt delivered a bizarre monologue in the House of Commons this morning in which she attempted to compare the Match of the Day host to Keir Starmer’s party.

Lineker is at the centre of controversy after he said some of the language used by the government to promote its latest immigration crackdown was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.

The former England striker has been criticised by ministers, among others, and has faced calls for the BBC to sack him as a presenter.

In her cringey speech, Mordaunt said: “Labour are borrowing from the Gary Lineker playbook.

“They are a party of goal-hangers and the occasional left-wing striker. Hanging around the goalmouth, poised to seize any opportunities and take an easy shot.

″But that only works if the ball is in the right half. This country doesn’t need goal-hangers, it needs centre forwards.

“It needs people who put in the hard work, take tough decisions, grip a problem and work out how to solve it and create those opportunities – and that is what we are doing.”

Twitter users were quick to point out that comparing Labour to a record-breaking England goalscorer who also starred for Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona in a glittering career may not be a wise move for the Tories.

Twitter users were baffled
Twitter users were baffled

One pointed out the obvious flaw for the Tories in comparing Labour to someone who was very good at their job.

Twitter users were baffled
Twitter users were baffled

Another recalled that it is not the first time the Conservatives have gone to war with a popular England striker.

The Tories do have form for criticising footballers
The Tories do have form for criticising footballers

Meanwwhile, another Twitter user chose the perfect football video to capture Mordaunt’s embarrassment.

A Labour source told HuffPost UK: “The Tories are more like Sven Goran Eriksson: a long, grim period in charge that leaves everyone worse off and takes years to fix.”

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Keir Starmer Defends Gary Lineker Over ‘Nazi’ Migrant Crackdown Row

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Keir Starmer has defended Gary Lineker amid the ongoing row over his comments about the government’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration.

The Match of the Day presenter has been criticised after he compared the language used by home secretary Suella Braverman to Nazi Germany.

Lineker, who has 8.6 million Twitter followers, commented on a video on the social media site put out by Braverman, in which she unveiled government plans to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel.

He tweeted : “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”

The former England striker then replied to a user who challenged him because it was “easy to pontificate when it doesn’t affect you”.

Lineker wrote: “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, and I’m out of order?”

He has been criticised by the home secretary, while a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said: “It’s obviously disappointing to see someone whose salary is funded by hard-working British (licence-fee) payers using that kind of rhetoric and seemingly dismissing their legitimate concerns that they have about small boats crossings and illegal migration.”

It is understood that Lineker will be spoken to about his comments by BBC bosses.

A spokesman for Starmer said: “I think there is a general observation that I’d make, which is I think comparisons with Germany in the 1930s aren’t always the best way to make one’s argument.

“On the specifics of Gary Lineker speaking out, everybody will know that he has been a passionate advocate on behalf of refugees and refugee rights, including taking refugees into his own home.

“So, I don’t think it will come as a surprise that he has strong views on this subject.”

Responding to the furore his remarks have caused, Lineker said he would “continue to speak up” on the subject.

In a tweet, he said: “I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly),” he said. “I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot.

“I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all.”

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Gary Lineker Defiant In Criticism Of Government’s Migrant Plans: ‘I’ll Continue To Try And Speak Up’

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Gary Lineker has insisted he will “continue to try and speak up” for migrants, amid headlines about his criticism of the government’s plans to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel.

The Match Of The Day host criticised the proposed crackdown, appearing to compare it to Nazi Germany in a series of posts on Twitter on Tuesday.

Shortly afterwards, the Telegraph quoted a “BBC source” who said that Gary would be “reminded of his responsibilities on social media” by the corporation, which has strict impartiality rules.

However, Gary remained defiant in his criticism of the government’s plans, and in a tweet on Wednesday, thanked followers for supporting him in doing so.

“I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly),” he said. “I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot.

“I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all.”

Gary had originally branded the government’s plans “beyond awful” and “immeasurably cruel”, writing: “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, and I’m out of order?”

His comments were condemned by a number of Tory politicians, who urged the BBC to take action.

During Wednesday’s edition of Radio Four’s Today programme, Suella Braverman said of Gary’s remarks: “I’m obviously disappointed that he should attempt to equate our measures with 1930s Germany. I don’t think that’s an appropriate way of framing the debate.”

Meanwhile, a BBC source has told the PA news agency that the corporation is taking the matter “seriously” and expects to have a “frank conversation” with Gary about his tweets.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “The BBC has social media guidance, which is published. Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media.

“We have appropriate internal processes in place if required.”

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Suella Braverman Roasted Over Claim 100 Million Refugees ‘Are Coming Here’

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Suella Braverman has been accused of using “dog whistle language” after she claimed that 100 million refugees are coming to the UK.

The home secretary made her remarks as she unveiled the government’s plans to stop asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France in small boats.

Under the Illegal Migrants Bill, anyone coming to the UK that way will be deported and banned from ever returning.

Unveiling the legislation in the House of Commons yesterday, Braverman said that under the present system, the 100 million people estimated to be displaced around the world would have the right to seek asylum in Britain.

“Let’s be clear – they are coming here,” she said.

She went even further in an article for the Daily Mail in which she said “billions” of refugees could attempt to come to the UK.

On Good Morning Britain today, she was taken to task over her comments by presenter Susanna Reid.

″You say there are 100 million people displaced around the world and likely billions more eager to come here in possible,” Reid said. “On what planet is that likely and how is that not inflammatory language.”

Doubling down, Braverman said the 100 million figure was a United Nations estimate of people fleeing conflict, persecution and climate change.

She said: “Many of them are heading to the United Kingdom. We saw over 45,000 people come here on small boats alone last year. This is an unsustainable problem that we’ve got and it’s now necessary for us to take steps to stop it.”

But Reid pointed out that only a quarter of the 100 million have even left their own country.

She said: “So even the 100 million figure doesn’t hold up, let alone the billions you have flagged in the Daily Mail this morning.”

On LBC last night, Iain Dale launched a furious attack on the home secretary.

Interviewing Tory MP Danny Kruger, he said: “Suella Braverman, in her statement earlier, said there are 100 million people that could qualify to come here. She said ‘let’s be clear – they are coming here’.

“You know as well as I do that 100 million people are not coming here. This is dog whistle language from an extremist home secretary, isn’t it?”

Gavin Barwell, a Tory peer who was Theresa May’s chief of staff when she was prime minister, said Braverman should be “utterly ashamed of herself for resorting to the language of extremists”.

Meanwhile, Braverman also insisted this morning that her migrant crackdown would not break international law, despite telling MPs and peers that it could.

In a letter seen by HuffPost UK, Braverman, who is a lawyer, admitted there was more than a 50 per cent chance that the Illegal Migrants Bill could breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Exclusive: Suella Braverman Admits Immigration Crackdown May Not Be Legal

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Suella Braverman has admitted her immigration crackdown may break international law.

In a letter to MPs, seen by HuffPost UK, the home secretary admitted parts of her plan to stop small boats might be “incompatible” with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Braverman said there is a more than 50% chance her new plan to stop small boats will be compatible with the Human Rights Act.

She formally unveiled her plan in the Commons on Tuesday, saying new legislation will remove asylum seekers and ban them from re-entry if they arrive through unauthorised means.

However, she suggested the plans were still being drawn up as she refused to address the bill’s “full legal complexities”. Braverman went on to say the nation’s “finest legal minds” continue to be involved in its “development”.

In her letter to MPs, Braverman said: “Our approach is robust and novel, which is why I’ve made a statement under Section 19(1)(b) of the Human Rights Act 1998.

“This does not mean that the provisions in the bill are incompatible with the Convention rights, only that there is a more [than] 50% chance that they may not be.

“We are testing the limits but remain confident that this bill is compatible with international law.”

In the Commons, Braverman also refused to make a “definitive statement of compatibility” of her legislation under the Human Rights Act.

“Of course the UK will always seek to uphold international law and I am confident that this bill is compatible with international obligations,” she told the Commons.

Ministers are under pressure from some Tory hardliners to leave the ECHR.

Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke asked if Braverman’s legislation is frustrated by the ECHR if she would commit to leave it: “Because leave it we must, if in the end this legislation is forestalled.”

Despite Tory MPs welcoming the plan in the Commons, HuffPost UK understands a number of them privately believe it is unworkable.

Earlier this morning former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said he had received assurances that the “government isn’t seeking to break international law” but he agreed the proposals will almost certainly become tied up in the courts.

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the bill a “con” and described the plans as “Groundhog Day”.

The bill allows the detention of illegal arrivals without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, until they can be removed.

It also places a duty on the home secretary to remove illegal entrants and it will “radically narrow the number of challenges and appeals that can suspend removal”.

The bill will also introduce an annual cap, to be decided by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will offer sanctuary to through safe and legal routes.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene Wishes Jews A Happy Purim. Oy Vey, Says Twitter.

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But many on Twitter weren’t buying her greeting for Purim, which commemorates a biblical Book of Esther story in which Queen Esther thwarted a plan for the Jews’ annihilation in ancient Persia. The holiday began on Monday evening and runs through to Tuesday evening.

One of her responders said Greene was Haman, the villain in the story.

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Lee Anderson Has Become The Latest Tory MP To Join GB News

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Lee Anderson has become the latest Tory MP to get his own show on GB News.

The Ashfield MP joins fellow Conservatives Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Philip Davies in getting his own show on the channel.

The controversial backbencher, who is also his party’s deputy chairman, has rarely been out of the headlines since being elected in 2019.

Last month he called the return of the death penalty and has also claimed that he has seen families who use food banks eating in McDonald’s “two or three times a week”.

Ironically, Anderson’s Labour predecessor as MP for Ashfield, Gloria de Piero, also has a show on GB News.

Anderson said: “GB News is the true voice of the great British silent majority. I’m joining the people’s channel to ensure their voice is heard.”

Michael Booker, the editorial director of GB News, said: “Lee has been a breath of fresh air in Westminster since he was elected, doing what many politicians are scared to do – talking honestly about what they believe.

“Our viewers and listeners appreciate his common sense language, something that has been missing from politics for a long time.

“As the next election will be fought in the Red Wall, Lee’s insights into northern voters will be key.”

Anderson’s decision to join GB News adds to a growing trend of Tory MPs branching out into broadcasting.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries also has a Friday night chat show on TalkTV.

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Boss Of Wagner Mercenary Group Launches Fresh Attack On Moscow

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The head of the mercenary Wagner Group has suggested that Russia is setting them up for failure in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said ammunition promised to his troops – some of whom were recruited directly from prison to join the war – has not arrived.

He said that was affecting the Wagner Group’s ability to help Russia hold on to the key city of Bakhmut.

His comments come just weeks after he accused Russian military chiefs of “treason”.

Prigozhin said that orders were signed on February 22 for the group, which is fighting alongside Russian forces, to be sent fresh ammunition the following day. However, most of it never arrived.

In a video uploaded at the weekend, Prigozhin said the lack of ammunition could be “ordinary bureaucracy or a betrayal”.

According to the BBC, he said: “If we step back, we will go down in history as the people who took the main step to lose the war.

“And this is precisely the problem with the [ammunition shortage]. This is not my opinion, but that of ordinary fighters.

“What if they [the Russian authorities] want to set us up, saying that we are scoundrels – and that’s why they are not giving us ammunition, not giving us weapons, and not letting us replenish our personnel, including [recruiting] prisoners?”

He went on to insist that without his group, Russia’s war in Ukraine would be a failure.

“If Wagner PMC [private military company] were to now retreat from Bakhmut, then the entire front – which PMC Wagner today is cementing – would crumble,” he said.

Who are the Wagner Group?

The Wagner private military company (also known as Wagner PMC) really took off in 2014.

It was the same year that Russia had seized the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and separatists in the Donbas region of Ukraine started to push back against Kyiv.

Headed up and financed by Prigozhin, the covert group of mercenaries began showing up to support the Russian troops in unmarked green uniforms.

At the time, Wagner was so unknown they were nicknamed “little green men”.

Since then, it has grown exponentially, taking on thousands of soldiers who can come straight from elite backgrounds or prison.

Private military contractors are forbidden in Russia, so the whole group works outside of the country’s law.

That means this is a covert group of significant military force and political influence which – according to Vox – makes money by serving Moscow, and exploiting natural commodities in target countries.

Even Prigozhin denied any link to the group until September 2022 when he admitted he founded it.

Prigozhin is also an associate of Vladimir Putin, and was previously nicknamed “Putin’s chef” because of his expanse of catering companies which catered to the Kremlin.

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Russia Forced To Use 60-Year-Old Tanks In Ukraine Due To Heavy Losses, Says UK

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Russia is being forced to use 60-year-old tanks because of the heavy losses it has sustained in the Ukraine war.

According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), the “vintage” T-62 vehicles have been brought out of storage and re-purposed so they can be sent into battle.

Armoured personnel carriers dating back to 1954 have also been deployed by Russia, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.

It emerged yesterday that Russian reservists are being sent to war armed with shovels.

“The Russian military has continued to respond to heavy armoured vehicle losses by deploying 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks (MBT),” the MoD said.

“There is a realistic possibility that even units of the 1st Guards Tank Army, supposedly Russia’s premier tank force, will be re-equipped with T-62s to make up for previous losses.”

The update went on: “In recent days, Russian BTR-50 armoured personnel carriers, first fielded in 1954, have also been identified deployed in Ukraine for the first time.

“Since summer 2022, approximately 800 T-62s have been taken from storage and some have received upgraded sighting systems which will highly likely improve their effectiveness at night.

“However, both these vintage vehicle types will present many vulnerabilities on the modern battlefield, including the absence of modern explosive reactive armour.”

In their update yesterday, the MoD said Russian mobilised reservists were “ordered to assault a Ukrainian concrete strong point armed with only ‘firearms and shovels’”.

One reservist described being “neither physically nor psychologically” prepared for the brutality of arm-to-arm combat.

The MoD said the shovels were likely MPL-50 “entrenching tools being employed for hand-to-hand combat”.

“Little changed since it was designed in 1869, its continued use as a weapon highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting which has come to characterise much of the war,” the intelligence update said.

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