Incoming BBC Chair Samir Shah Says Gary Lineker Tweets Broke Rules

Samir Shah, the government’s choice for the next BBC chairman, told a parliamentary committee that, in his opinion, host Gary Lineker’s recent social media activities breached the broadcaster’s social media guidelines.

During a pre-appointment hearing with MPs on Wednesday Shah criticised a tweet by the Match Of The Day host in response to comments by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, suggesting it might contravene the BBC’s guidelines.

“The more recent tweet in which he identifies a politician does, on the face of it, seem to breach those guidelines,” Shah told the hearing.

“I’m not sure how egregious it is but I imagine the BBC is looking into it and considering its response,” he continued.

Labour MP Clive Efford then asked: “If [Lineker] has made a comment about a public matter, which he has in signing the letter… if politicians start to weigh in on that, he’s entitled to comment back, isn’t he?”

Shah replied: “Not according to social media guidelines. He’s entitled to sign the letter, but as far as I’m aware you can be critical with making ad hominem remarks.”

In response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda bill, Lineker recently signed a letter urging the government to devise a “fair new plan for refugees.”

Shah acknowledged that while signing the letter did not constitute a breach of guidelines, he questioned Lineker’s replies to backlash from Conservative lawmakers who accused him of compromising the BBC’s impartiality.

In response to criticisms from politicians like Tory MP Jonathan Gullis and Shapps, Lineker quipped about Gullis’ intellect in a tweet and mocked Shapps for his use of aliases prior to his parliamentary career.

Amid the controversy, veteran journalist Piers Morgan spoke up in defence of Lineker:

https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/173415942729120564

These exchanges have raised, again, the ongoing debate about the balance between personal expression and professional responsibility in the age of social media, particularly for figures associated with public broadcasting institutions like the BBC.

The broadcaster introduced new social media rules mandating that presenters should not criticise the character of individual politicians and should foster “civility in public discourse.”