“I guess we’ll find out what the will of the British people is at the next general election. If you do end up out of work, I’ll put in a word for you with Walkers Crisps.”
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has hit back at Tory MPs after they criticised him for daring to have a view on the government’s Rwanda deportation scheme, after the former England striker put his name to a letter urging ministers to scrap the plan.
Lineker, along with other celebrities signed an open letter calling for politicians to come up with a “fair new plan for refugees”, after the Rwanda policy which is a key part of the government’s plan to stop small boat crossings, was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.
Lineker was among a handful of the signatories to the letter who supplied quotes for the letter. He stated: “We need a new system that reflects the will of the British people who have opened their homes, donated and volunteered in their local communities.
“That’s why I’m backing this new campaign – because fair really can begin here.”
The government is attempting to push through its Safety of Rwanda Bill by compelling judges to treat Rwanda as a safe country and giving ministers the powers to disregard sections of the Human Rights Act.
Lineker’s intervention led to a backlash among Tory MPs, with Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson citing a quote he’d given the Daily Mail. He posted on X: “For once in his life, Gary’s absolutely right – we do need a system that reflects the will of the British people.
“What the people want is to stop the boats and to tell overpaid crisp salesmen to put a sock in it.
“Alongside cracking down on illegal migration, we need another robust system which keeps Lineker as far away from the public as possible, to give us all a rest from his left wing out of touch nonsense.”
Lineker replied on X: “I guess we’ll find out what the will of the British people is at the next general election. If you do end up out of work, I’ll put in a word for you with Walkers Crisps.”
Tory MP Jonathan Gullis also took aim at Lineker, posting on X: “Yet another breach of the BBC’s impartiality rules by @GaryLineker. But, sadly, spineless Tim Davie will do nothing about it, having surrendered to Lineker previously.” Lineker replied: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also criticised Lineker, telling ITV news: “I just think @GaryLineker should get on with commenting on football and stop meddling in these other areas.”
To which Lineker replied: “A tad rich coming from someone who can’t even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
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