Controversial sending off for Lineker
March 10, 2023 11:28 AM Subscribe
The BBC's Match of the Day (MOTD) is the longest running football television programme in the world. It is currently hosted by Gary Lineker, former England striker and 1990 World Cup semi-finalist and Golden Boot winner. Lineker, very famously, was never given either a red or yellow card in his professional career. But the BBC have given him one now.
Following the UK government's recent introduction of a bill to reduce the flow of refugees to our shores, Gary tweeted his disapproval, and then replied to criticism by adding "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?"
Lineker might be a former footballer and the highest paid BBC freelance presenter, but he's also been a support of refugees for a long time, including taking them into his home. The predictable government and right wing backlash began immediately, with criticism from all sides of the Conservative party. The BBC took a day or so to cave to their demands and/or decide that Lineker's tweets contravened their newscaster's impartiality rules. Lineker insisted he was standing by what he said. The BBC have stood him down from presenting MOTD, which sports reporter Dan Walker confirms via text is the BBC's choice and not Lineker's.
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, both England footballing legends in their own right and regular MOTD pundits, have also declined to appear on Saturday night's MOTD in solidarity.
Impartiality rules mean that the BBC are forced to report on their own PR crisis as it unfolds. Other news sources are available.
Following the UK government's recent introduction of a bill to reduce the flow of refugees to our shores, Gary tweeted his disapproval, and then replied to criticism by adding "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?"
Lineker might be a former footballer and the highest paid BBC freelance presenter, but he's also been a support of refugees for a long time, including taking them into his home. The predictable government and right wing backlash began immediately, with criticism from all sides of the Conservative party. The BBC took a day or so to cave to their demands and/or decide that Lineker's tweets contravened their newscaster's impartiality rules. Lineker insisted he was standing by what he said. The BBC have stood him down from presenting MOTD, which sports reporter Dan Walker confirms via text is the BBC's choice and not Lineker's.
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, both England footballing legends in their own right and regular MOTD pundits, have also declined to appear on Saturday night's MOTD in solidarity.
Impartiality rules mean that the BBC are forced to report on their own PR crisis as it unfolds. Other news sources are available.
Now this is cancel culture!
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:41 AM on March 10, 2023 [25 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:41 AM on March 10, 2023 [25 favorites]
Fuck the tories.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 11:42 AM on March 10, 2023 [34 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 11:42 AM on March 10, 2023 [34 favorites]
What is it that makes each Conservative Home Secretary seemingly more odious than the one that came before?
Hats off to Lineker, I don't think I've ever seen MOTD (I'm not in the UK so I'll just watch the actual matches or highlights instead of people talking about them) but I remember after Leicester won the league he kept his promise to present in his boxers, demonstrating more honour than any of the tosspot MPs who are criticising him now.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:53 AM on March 10, 2023 [19 favorites]
Hats off to Lineker, I don't think I've ever seen MOTD (I'm not in the UK so I'll just watch the actual matches or highlights instead of people talking about them) but I remember after Leicester won the league he kept his promise to present in his boxers, demonstrating more honour than any of the tosspot MPs who are criticising him now.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:53 AM on March 10, 2023 [19 favorites]
The current BBC chair Richard Sharp has donated £400,000 to the conservative party and lent £800,000 to Boris Johnson.
How did Sharp get the job?
posted by clew at 12:01 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
How did Sharp get the job?
posted by clew at 12:01 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
There is something just so wild about this current state censorship in a country where every second pub name is a pun about cocks or testicles.
posted by srboisvert at 12:06 PM on March 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 12:06 PM on March 10, 2023 [8 favorites]
Novara Media tackle Suella's claim that "Billions more are likely to come here if possible"
posted by Lanark at 12:30 PM on March 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Lanark at 12:30 PM on March 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
How did Sharp get the job?
The four-strong advisory assessment panel, which ultimately decided that five of the 23 applicants were fit for the job, was formed on the basis of three members being considered independent.
The selection panel was made up of:
Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who oversaw the short-listing process before the final decision made by Johnson.
Catherine Baxendale, a former Tesco executive, who was shortlisted to be a Tory parliamentary candidate in 2017.
Blondel Cluff, wife of Algy Cluff, the North Sea oil tycoon, who owned the Spectator from 1980 until 1985.
Sir William Fittall a British civil servant and Anglican lay reader, who spent almost 30 years in the civil service before retiring in 2002.
posted by Lanark at 12:43 PM on March 10, 2023 [13 favorites]
The four-strong advisory assessment panel, which ultimately decided that five of the 23 applicants were fit for the job, was formed on the basis of three members being considered independent.
The selection panel was made up of:
Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who oversaw the short-listing process before the final decision made by Johnson.
Catherine Baxendale, a former Tesco executive, who was shortlisted to be a Tory parliamentary candidate in 2017.
Blondel Cluff, wife of Algy Cluff, the North Sea oil tycoon, who owned the Spectator from 1980 until 1985.
Sir William Fittall a British civil servant and Anglican lay reader, who spent almost 30 years in the civil service before retiring in 2002.
posted by Lanark at 12:43 PM on March 10, 2023 [13 favorites]
Jeeeeesus that's terrible. I mean, on one hand you have a guy saying "refugees are people," and on the other you have "stop saying that, lalalalala!"
The contempt for the refugees and anyone who supports them is so stark.
I haven't spent extended time in the U.K. in man years. Does the Beeb still have credibility (which this would damage), or are they no longer as trusted as they used to be?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:45 PM on March 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
The contempt for the refugees and anyone who supports them is so stark.
I haven't spent extended time in the U.K. in man years. Does the Beeb still have credibility (which this would damage), or are they no longer as trusted as they used to be?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:45 PM on March 10, 2023 [5 favorites]
Does the Beeb still have credibility (which this would damage), or are they no longer as trusted as they used to be?
They are still beloved, and still the most popular broadcaster for nationally important events. Their news reporting is generally considered credible, even if their management decisions are not.
posted by plonkee at 1:15 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
They are still beloved, and still the most popular broadcaster for nationally important events. Their news reporting is generally considered credible, even if their management decisions are not.
posted by plonkee at 1:15 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
Does the Beeb still have credibility (which this would damage), or are they no longer as trusted as they used to be?
with the beeb:
sufficiently advanced spinelessness is indistinguishable from fash-adjacency
posted by lalochezia at 1:16 PM on March 10, 2023 [14 favorites]
with the beeb:
sufficiently advanced spinelessness is indistinguishable from fash-adjacency
posted by lalochezia at 1:16 PM on March 10, 2023 [14 favorites]
Meanwhile, last night the host of the UK's leading political discussion show, Question Time, Fiona Bruce, defended Boris Johnson's father from an accusation of domestic violence. By pointing out his friends had made it clear he had only punched his wife, breaking her nose, on one occasion. Clip here.
posted by biffa at 1:36 PM on March 10, 2023 [20 favorites]
posted by biffa at 1:36 PM on March 10, 2023 [20 favorites]
The BBC have released a statement confirming that tomorrow's Match of the Day will focus solely on match action, without studio presentation.
posted by Lanark at 1:39 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Lanark at 1:39 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
this sucks so much. deeply unserious country. awful
posted by ominous_paws at 2:03 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by ominous_paws at 2:03 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
It's just so weird that the British Conservative Party decided to go to war against a widely beloved public figure who has very little to lose by facing up to them. What's even weirder is that the leadership of the Labour Party has only stuck their necks out as far as to say what amounts to 'well I wouldn't have said that but I guess he's got the right to say what he thinks'. It's rare, in politics, when the obviously right thing is also the obviously popular thing.
posted by Kattullus at 2:28 PM on March 10, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 2:28 PM on March 10, 2023 [11 favorites]
Current Labour leadership anyway:
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:50 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
While former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised Gary Lineker and his fellow Gooner Ian Wright on Twitter.Although it probably is for the best that he isn't a part of the leadership any more.
The Islington North MP wrote: “Well done @GaryLineker for standing up for refugees. Well done @IanWright0 for showing the meaning of solidarity. Now, let’s mobilise against a politics of cruelty, and defeat this inhumane, illegal & immoral legislation.”
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:50 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Like a bad house guest, the Tory party is intent on breaking as much as possible on the way out.
posted by The River Ivel at 3:02 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by The River Ivel at 3:02 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
RIP MOTD, what a shame.
posted by Kosmob0t at 3:28 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Kosmob0t at 3:28 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
every second pub name is a pun about cocks or testicles
Accurate, and those that aren’t are just flat out called The Cock and Testicles, mostly
posted by Jon Mitchell at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Accurate, and those that aren’t are just flat out called The Cock and Testicles, mostly
posted by Jon Mitchell at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Thanks for posting this; I'd been seeing bits and pieces of the edges of this story on social media but all I could get was Lineker was doing something stand-up and Auntie, or at least her Tory masters, was unhappy.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
BBC Director General Tim Davie, has now stepped into the fray, saying that forcing Gary Lineker to step aside is about "delivering on impartiality"
Tim Davie was previously a Conservative Party candidate and Deputy Chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative party,
posted by Lanark at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
Tim Davie was previously a Conservative Party candidate and Deputy Chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative party,
posted by Lanark at 3:38 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
Twitter seems to be betting hard that Jake Humphrey is just the piece of shit to take over as soon as he can. The biege fuck.
posted by biffa at 3:42 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 3:42 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Apparently all the cohosts and pundits are not taking part, and all the commentators have announced it would not be right to take part, either. So as it stands, MotD is 80 minutes of unpresented, unpundited, uncommentated of football highlights.
If nothing else, it's wonderful to see the stand being taken against the shrill political interference of a government who apparently fear a freelance football pundit almost as much as they hate asylum seekers And that's before we get to the fact that staying silent on something immoral isn't impartiality - it's complicity.
The BBC matters more than its current politically appointed board and the current government. This isn't a culture war, it's a demented power play from MPs who can't run their own government. Fuck the Tories, et cetera.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 3:56 PM on March 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
If nothing else, it's wonderful to see the stand being taken against the shrill political interference of a government who apparently fear a freelance football pundit almost as much as they hate asylum seekers And that's before we get to the fact that staying silent on something immoral isn't impartiality - it's complicity.
The BBC matters more than its current politically appointed board and the current government. This isn't a culture war, it's a demented power play from MPs who can't run their own government. Fuck the Tories, et cetera.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 3:56 PM on March 10, 2023 [12 favorites]
The BBC is largely funded by the licence fee, payable by every household in the UK who has the ability to watch / stream BBC TV. Currently the annual fee is £159 for a colour and £53.50 for a black and white TV(!). All BBC TV and radio is free of commercial adverts.
The Tories periodically threaten to de-fund the BBC by axing the fee (or make it optional – ha!), therefore the bouts of obsequiousness from the BBC management towards the government, in order to keep them on side.
posted by Kiwi at 4:23 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Tories periodically threaten to de-fund the BBC by axing the fee (or make it optional – ha!), therefore the bouts of obsequiousness from the BBC management towards the government, in order to keep them on side.
posted by Kiwi at 4:23 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
The current Tory government seems to be running through it's playbook and nothing is working any more.
Tax cuts for the rich: See Truss, Liz. Shortest prime minister in history
Smash the unions: The unions are becoming more popular by the day as it becomes clear that the problem is actually government intransigence.
Blame the EU: Well, Britain isn't in the EU any more. They stand alone, able to make all their own decisions. How, exactly, is the EU to blame?
Immigrant bashing: Well, they've been in charge for 12 years, they go on about this regularly and it's hard to see that they've ever accomplished anything towards this (well maybe Brexit, which has made the country less attractive generally).
Smash the BBC: Attempting to degrade one of the finest institutions of the country is always tricky, but generally the other press in the country could be counted on to support, though I doubt it this time. Best scenario for the government right now that the new Chairman reinstates Lineker with immediate effect, as otherwise the words GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP are going to be thrown around until someone, likely the new Chairman of the BBC, and possibly any minister who (due to inevitable leaks) has called for Gary to be fired is going to be answering some very probing questions from ALL of the journalistic establishment.
I still wouldn't bet against Gary & Co. presenting Match of the Day tomorrow with various other heads rolling rather than theirs.
posted by BigCalm at 4:53 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Tax cuts for the rich: See Truss, Liz. Shortest prime minister in history
Smash the unions: The unions are becoming more popular by the day as it becomes clear that the problem is actually government intransigence.
Blame the EU: Well, Britain isn't in the EU any more. They stand alone, able to make all their own decisions. How, exactly, is the EU to blame?
Immigrant bashing: Well, they've been in charge for 12 years, they go on about this regularly and it's hard to see that they've ever accomplished anything towards this (well maybe Brexit, which has made the country less attractive generally).
Smash the BBC: Attempting to degrade one of the finest institutions of the country is always tricky, but generally the other press in the country could be counted on to support, though I doubt it this time. Best scenario for the government right now that the new Chairman reinstates Lineker with immediate effect, as otherwise the words GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP are going to be thrown around until someone, likely the new Chairman of the BBC, and possibly any minister who (due to inevitable leaks) has called for Gary to be fired is going to be answering some very probing questions from ALL of the journalistic establishment.
I still wouldn't bet against Gary & Co. presenting Match of the Day tomorrow with various other heads rolling rather than theirs.
posted by BigCalm at 4:53 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
The Tories periodically threaten to de-fund the BBC by axing the fee (or make it optional – ha!), therefore the bouts of obsequiousness from the BBC management towards the government, in order to keep them on side.
That used to be the key issue but the Tory government has spent a lot of the last decade putting more friendly faces in key positions. So while it used to be fairly committed people trying to balance political impartiality against funding risk, now it's some party appointee enforcing government protection.
posted by biffa at 4:56 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
That used to be the key issue but the Tory government has spent a lot of the last decade putting more friendly faces in key positions. So while it used to be fairly committed people trying to balance political impartiality against funding risk, now it's some party appointee enforcing government protection.
posted by biffa at 4:56 PM on March 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
It's all a massive distraction from the corruption, economy, and laundry list of shit they are trying to hide (Sunak Tax Returns, doctors, firefighters, civil service all striking, and honestly I don't want to think about it any more).
posted by bookbook at 5:11 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by bookbook at 5:11 PM on March 10, 2023 [3 favorites]
UK residents are reminded of
https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/#/Complaint
It takes a sit-down amount of writing to get it done, but it feels good. I filed my complaint about the Attenborough omission under "Scheduling", but you could also file under "Bias".
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 6:11 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/#/Complaint
It takes a sit-down amount of writing to get it done, but it feels good. I filed my complaint about the Attenborough omission under "Scheduling", but you could also file under "Bias".
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 6:11 PM on March 10, 2023 [6 favorites]
With no commentators, what will they show at halftime? The Tesco's Christmas adverts in an endless loop? The BBC Orchestra's new "God Save the King" over a gently waving flag? The empty studio?!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:43 PM on March 10, 2023
posted by wenestvedt at 7:43 PM on March 10, 2023
With no commentators, what will they show at halftime?
Match of the Day, despite the name is not the broadcast of a full, single match so there's no half-time. It's highlights, post-match interviews, & commentary. From one of the articles (don't remember which), it sounded like they have other sources of commentary done by other people they can use.
posted by juv3nal at 7:59 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Match of the Day, despite the name is not the broadcast of a full, single match so there's no half-time. It's highlights, post-match interviews, & commentary. From one of the articles (don't remember which), it sounded like they have other sources of commentary done by other people they can use.
posted by juv3nal at 7:59 PM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh looks like it was this tweet where I got the bit about them having access to other commentary.
posted by juv3nal at 12:14 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by juv3nal at 12:14 AM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
It seems to me Lineker really forced the BBC into this. It makes me think of cases where someone isn’t comfortable in a relationship, but instead of quitting they just behave worse and worse in order to make the other party break it off.
posted by Phanx at 12:31 AM on March 11, 2023
posted by Phanx at 12:31 AM on March 11, 2023
Lineker didn't force them into this - the government and the more actively Toried BBC board have been shifting the goalposts and looking for a fight, and they have managed to pick one, package it, and also blame him for it.
Yes, he could have not said anything on his personal Twitter, but it really didn't used to be a problem if you weren't in the news. It really is an active attempt to find culture wars; that anyone might imagine this is anyone's doing other than a very cynical conservative party only plays into the normalisation of the right's hypocrisy over state intervention in free speech, etc.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 1:23 AM on March 11, 2023 [12 favorites]
Yes, he could have not said anything on his personal Twitter, but it really didn't used to be a problem if you weren't in the news. It really is an active attempt to find culture wars; that anyone might imagine this is anyone's doing other than a very cynical conservative party only plays into the normalisation of the right's hypocrisy over state intervention in free speech, etc.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 1:23 AM on March 11, 2023 [12 favorites]
I don’t think it was a calculated move initially by Lineker. He was replying to a now deleted tweet, and he while what he has said was bound to annoy the government I don’t think it was obvious that it would trip up the BBC as badly as this. Deciding to double down and not retract probably is calculated. And why not. Footballers have all gotten rich through luck rather than exploiting others. There’s no reason they can’t have genuine moral fibre.
posted by plonkee at 1:23 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by plonkee at 1:23 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
Onebuttonmonkey is right - the government have nothing positive to offer and have been quite clearly looking for some sort of "culture war" fight for awhile now. The changes they proposed are illegal (nationally and internationally) and unworkable, it's likely that their sole purpose to was to provoke some sort of media effect.
posted by BinaryApe at 1:27 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BinaryApe at 1:27 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
Lineker has a reputation for being a stand-up guy with coworkers, journalists, and just people in general. I think that really helps when it comes to other people taking his side. It’s remarkable how the reaction has been from footballers has been mostly unanimous in support.
posted by Kattullus at 2:41 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 2:41 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Alex Scott, Kelly Somers, Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas have all said they won’t appear on either Match of the Day or their sports programs! [Guardian] This was such a stupid decision, as was censoring David Attenborough. Fuck the Tories.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:51 AM on March 11, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 2:51 AM on March 11, 2023 [12 favorites]
Oops, I meant to link to the New York Times article about this in my last comment. Here’s the part about the solidarity by the footballers:
Soon after the BBC issued the statement about Mr. Lineker’s absence, the two other former star players who host the show alongside him each week, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, said they had told the BBC that they would not appear on the show on Saturday.posted by Kattullus at 2:52 AM on March 11, 2023 [7 favorites]
Within hours, a group of commentators scheduled to call individual matches on Saturday said that they, too, would refuse to take part in it. And by Saturday, reports from the BBC and other reporters suggested that players and coaches, perhaps with the support of their teams, would boycott contractual postgame interviews out of solidarity with Mr. Lineker.
The Professional Footballers’ Association, the union representing Premier League players, confirmed that players would not be asked to do interviews. It called the move to remove them from the dray “a common sense decision,” and said it had heard from members who expressed a desire to take a collective position in support of Mr. Lineker and any other commentators who had “chosen not to be part of tonight’s program.”
There are no shortage of pithy tweets making very good points, but this from a member of Sky Sports' team is particularly spot on:
Kaveh Solhekol
@SkyKaveh
Gary Lineker suspended by the BBC for upsetting the Conservatives because he stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. The same BBC whose chairman gave the Conservatives £400,000 before helping to arrange an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson
https://twitter.com/SkyKaveh/status/1634288030658842641?s=20
Possibly worth mentioning again that the chair of the BBC is currently being investigated over links between him, finance and the PM of a government who are supposed to appoint impartial people. Unlike Gary, the chair has not been suspended from his normal tasks while the investigation proceeds.
I really hope this is the start of a serious pushback rather than a flash in the pan until business as usual resumes.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 3:37 AM on March 11, 2023 [14 favorites]
Kaveh Solhekol
@SkyKaveh
Gary Lineker suspended by the BBC for upsetting the Conservatives because he stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. The same BBC whose chairman gave the Conservatives £400,000 before helping to arrange an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson
https://twitter.com/SkyKaveh/status/1634288030658842641?s=20
Possibly worth mentioning again that the chair of the BBC is currently being investigated over links between him, finance and the PM of a government who are supposed to appoint impartial people. Unlike Gary, the chair has not been suspended from his normal tasks while the investigation proceeds.
I really hope this is the start of a serious pushback rather than a flash in the pan until business as usual resumes.
posted by onebuttonmonkey at 3:37 AM on March 11, 2023 [14 favorites]
It's not just Match of the Day that's impacted. Football Focus, the BBC's afternoon tv football show, Fighting Talk and 5 Live Sport on its sports radio channel have all been cancelled for today as presenters and staff pulled out in solidarity.
posted by MartinWisse at 5:01 AM on March 11, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by MartinWisse at 5:01 AM on March 11, 2023 [7 favorites]
The current BBC chair Richard Sharp has donated £400,000 to the conservative party and lent £800,000 to Boris Johnson.
Fairly minor point in the grand scheme of things, but this isn't correct - Sharp didn't lend £800K to Johnson, he put Johnson in touch with a friend who did lend him the money. I mean, clearly it's all bent as a nine bob note, but might as well be correct about the ways in which it's bent.
I'm always worried about anything that could be used to undermine the BBC/be used as an excuse to take away the licence fee, as Tory governments constantly threaten. But to see its collective employees turn around and stand up en masse to the endless right-wing power grab within the organisation after so many years, is a thing of joy. All those years of Farage being given a red carpet onto Question Time again and again, the lack of rigorous reporting on the effects of Brexit, on and on.
I don't think it was on anybody's bingo card that it would be Gary Lineker and Carol Vorderman leading the revolution, but I'm here for it.
Lineker's always been an interesting one. I remember when he went to play in Spain, he actually - shock, horror - learned Spanish, and it was so unheard of that an English player moving abroad made any effort to assimilate, that it was treated as a bit of a bizarre thing to do, by the British press.
He's also a big theatre-goer - patron of the National Student Drama Festival and pal of playwright Simon Stephens, another thing that's not stereotypical footballer fare.
posted by penguin pie at 6:47 AM on March 11, 2023 [11 favorites]
Fairly minor point in the grand scheme of things, but this isn't correct - Sharp didn't lend £800K to Johnson, he put Johnson in touch with a friend who did lend him the money. I mean, clearly it's all bent as a nine bob note, but might as well be correct about the ways in which it's bent.
I'm always worried about anything that could be used to undermine the BBC/be used as an excuse to take away the licence fee, as Tory governments constantly threaten. But to see its collective employees turn around and stand up en masse to the endless right-wing power grab within the organisation after so many years, is a thing of joy. All those years of Farage being given a red carpet onto Question Time again and again, the lack of rigorous reporting on the effects of Brexit, on and on.
I don't think it was on anybody's bingo card that it would be Gary Lineker and Carol Vorderman leading the revolution, but I'm here for it.
Lineker's always been an interesting one. I remember when he went to play in Spain, he actually - shock, horror - learned Spanish, and it was so unheard of that an English player moving abroad made any effort to assimilate, that it was treated as a bit of a bizarre thing to do, by the British press.
He's also a big theatre-goer - patron of the National Student Drama Festival and pal of playwright Simon Stephens, another thing that's not stereotypical footballer fare.
posted by penguin pie at 6:47 AM on March 11, 2023 [11 favorites]
I don't think it was on anybody's bingo card that it would be Gary Lineker and Carol Vorderman leading the revolution, but I'm here for it.
Kind of reminds me of Hugh Grant being the catalyst for the phone hacking scandal. Maybe once it goes past the usual suspects and affects someone famous that most people like, or at least are indifferent to, then they become the figurehead that everyone can really around. Yesterday's live report in the Guardian had a tweet from Jeremy Clarkson supporting Ian Wright's decision not to present on MOTD and I got the impression the two weren't best friends.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:00 AM on March 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
Kind of reminds me of Hugh Grant being the catalyst for the phone hacking scandal. Maybe once it goes past the usual suspects and affects someone famous that most people like, or at least are indifferent to, then they become the figurehead that everyone can really around. Yesterday's live report in the Guardian had a tweet from Jeremy Clarkson supporting Ian Wright's decision not to present on MOTD and I got the impression the two weren't best friends.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:00 AM on March 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
the Guardian had a tweet from Jeremy Clarkson supporting Ian Wright's decision not to present on MOTD and I got the impression the two weren't best friends.
Yeah, I think one of the things that makes this so troublesome for the Tories/Beeb is that it wraps all the way around and also draws support from the right-wing free speech folk like Clarkson, who want to be free to air their own (often fairly objectionable) views with impunity.
Not natural bedfellows, but it's fascinating to see the issue of free speech suddenly being deployed in the interests of more left-leaning interests than usual, and to such devastating effect. And fair play, I guess, to the likes of Clarkson* for defending the principle, even if he quite likely doesn't actually agree with Lineker's views on immigration.
*away to wash my brain out with soap for having typed the words 'fair play to Clarkson'
posted by penguin pie at 7:09 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
Yeah, I think one of the things that makes this so troublesome for the Tories/Beeb is that it wraps all the way around and also draws support from the right-wing free speech folk like Clarkson, who want to be free to air their own (often fairly objectionable) views with impunity.
Not natural bedfellows, but it's fascinating to see the issue of free speech suddenly being deployed in the interests of more left-leaning interests than usual, and to such devastating effect. And fair play, I guess, to the likes of Clarkson* for defending the principle, even if he quite likely doesn't actually agree with Lineker's views on immigration.
*away to wash my brain out with soap for having typed the words 'fair play to Clarkson'
posted by penguin pie at 7:09 AM on March 11, 2023 [13 favorites]
it wraps all the way around and also draws support from the right-wing free speech folk like Clarkson
...
*away to wash my brain out with soap for having typed the words 'fair play to Clarkson'
Yeah you know they done fucked up bad if they got me agreeing with something Piers Morgan said. Ugh.
posted by juv3nal at 10:57 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
...
*away to wash my brain out with soap for having typed the words 'fair play to Clarkson'
Yeah you know they done fucked up bad if they got me agreeing with something Piers Morgan said. Ugh.
posted by juv3nal at 10:57 AM on March 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
“ Does the Beeb still have credibility (which this would damage), or are they no longer as trusted as they used to be?”
In Scotland, there is widespread mistrust of BBC Scotland News output, which has been seen by many as peddling an anti-Scottish independence agenda.
But people are often able to separate that from eg their radio or TV delivery, and I think there remains a degree of solidity about the BBC which other broadcasters do not have in the U.K.
posted by JJZByBffqU at 11:07 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
In Scotland, there is widespread mistrust of BBC Scotland News output, which has been seen by many as peddling an anti-Scottish independence agenda.
But people are often able to separate that from eg their radio or TV delivery, and I think there remains a degree of solidity about the BBC which other broadcasters do not have in the U.K.
posted by JJZByBffqU at 11:07 AM on March 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Attenborough "censorship" thing I think is probably not actually what is being reported. You have unnamed "senior sources" at the BBC claiming it was hidden away on iPlayer, and BBC issuing a statement rebutting that. But you also have the actual history of how it was commissioned, which contradicts the unnamed sources' account.
I mean, the Silverback Films guy could be lying, too. Although I think details like he gives would be a lot easier to disprove (or prove) than the BBC's general statement of "we always intended it to be five parts" without any specifics that someone could go research.
posted by tubedogg at 1:05 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Alastair Fothergill, the director of Silverback Films and the executive producer of Wild Isles, added: “The BBC commissioned a five-part Wild Isles series from us at Silverback Films back in 2017. The RSPB and WWF joined us as co-production partners in 2018.The "film for iPlayer" is what the Guardian has called the supposed 6th episode of Wild Isles.
It was not until the end of 2021 that the two charities commissioned Silverback Films to make a film for them that celebrates the extraordinary work of people fighting to restore nature in Britain and Ireland. The BBC acquired this film for iPlayer at the start of this year.”
I mean, the Silverback Films guy could be lying, too. Although I think details like he gives would be a lot easier to disprove (or prove) than the BBC's general statement of "we always intended it to be five parts" without any specifics that someone could go research.
posted by tubedogg at 1:05 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Well, assuming the screenshot's genuine, the promo blurb on the BBC's own Countryfile website initially described the series as having six episodes.
That page has subsequently been edited to say five episodes.
posted by penguin pie at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
That page has subsequently been edited to say five episodes.
posted by penguin pie at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
I was pretty unimpressed with BBC's national news when I was living in Birmingham (2005-2012) but that was probably because I wasn't in London and the BBC's national news is really just London news. They also shut down the BBC Birmingham office during my UK tenure but that was no loss news wise because the local news was stupid to put it mildly (close to zero local politics and 100% seniors with unrepaired burst water mains). Even back then it was clear the BBC was self-censoring extensively to please both Labour and the Tories and ultimately neutering themselves.
posted by srboisvert at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by srboisvert at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
BBC Scotland has curtailed its sports coverage amid the ongoing row over Gary Lineker
posted by scruss at 7:54 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 7:54 PM on March 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
assuming the screenshot's genuine
It is saved on archive.org's wayback machine on Mar 1st as having 6 episodes. At the next scan on Mar 10th (at 20:42) it was edited to have 5 episodes.
posted by Lanark at 1:11 AM on March 12, 2023 [3 favorites]
It is saved on archive.org's wayback machine on Mar 1st as having 6 episodes. At the next scan on Mar 10th (at 20:42) it was edited to have 5 episodes.
posted by Lanark at 1:11 AM on March 12, 2023 [3 favorites]
Day 2: The corporation is poised to cut back Match of the Day 2 and coverage of the Women’s Super League match between Manchester United and Chelsea after a mass walkout by BBC stars. [Guardian]
posted by ellieBOA at 7:10 AM on March 12, 2023
posted by ellieBOA at 7:10 AM on March 12, 2023
RNIB says MOTD without commentary breaches the Equalities Act for visually impaired viewers.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:14 AM on March 12, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 7:14 AM on March 12, 2023 [9 favorites]
> the promo blurb on the BBC's own Countryfile website initially described the series as having six episodes.
(emphasis mine)
BBC licenses the Countryfile name to the independent publishers of that magazine/website; it's not published by BBC. The Guardian quotes "senior sources" at BBC but doesn't refer to the Countryfile listing, despite it apparently being posted prior to The Guardian publishing; this would seem to reinforce that Countryfile is independent, as if it's not, it would be a public announcement from BBC contradicting their own later statement and you would think The Guardian would have been all over that.
All of that aside--this thread on Twitter links to the actual BBC announcement from last year that says it was a five-part series (confirmed as saying "five part" last year, too, by Wayback Machine). That nails it down completely; The Guardian is flat-out wrong, and BBC has been consistent since the announcement.
In the same thread, WWF also says the film was made by them & partners and not commissioned by BBC. BBC has simply subsequently bought rights to stream it on iPlayer.
posted by tubedogg at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
(emphasis mine)
BBC licenses the Countryfile name to the independent publishers of that magazine/website; it's not published by BBC. The Guardian quotes "senior sources" at BBC but doesn't refer to the Countryfile listing, despite it apparently being posted prior to The Guardian publishing; this would seem to reinforce that Countryfile is independent, as if it's not, it would be a public announcement from BBC contradicting their own later statement and you would think The Guardian would have been all over that.
All of that aside--this thread on Twitter links to the actual BBC announcement from last year that says it was a five-part series (confirmed as saying "five part" last year, too, by Wayback Machine). That nails it down completely; The Guardian is flat-out wrong, and BBC has been consistent since the announcement.
In the same thread, WWF also says the film was made by them & partners and not commissioned by BBC. BBC has simply subsequently bought rights to stream it on iPlayer.
posted by tubedogg at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
@frankieboyle
A river of boiling shit flows through your town. You haven’t seen a tomato for 18 months. MOTD is 3 minutes long and narrated by a parakeet. Your salary is paid directly to British Gas. You solve a riddle to speak to a GP. You feel people come here because they want an easy life
posted by srboisvert at 1:08 PM on March 12, 2023 [13 favorites]
A river of boiling shit flows through your town. You haven’t seen a tomato for 18 months. MOTD is 3 minutes long and narrated by a parakeet. Your salary is paid directly to British Gas. You solve a riddle to speak to a GP. You feel people come here because they want an easy life
posted by srboisvert at 1:08 PM on March 12, 2023 [13 favorites]
Way up thread, any portmanteau in a storm asked "What is it that makes each Conservative Home Secretary seemingly more odious than the one that came before?"
Turns out Priti Patel (previous Home Secretary, absolute fucking monster) is "considering a potentially explosive intervention in the Commons on Monday over the bill" as "one of several Tory MPs who are known to have serious concerns and are seeking reassurances or changes to the bill this weekend." In particular, she is apparently concerned "about changes to the way children will be treated when arriving in the UK, and the way in which the new bill comes close to breaching international law."
Braverman is beyond wicked and Lineker was pulling his punches.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/11/revealed-child-refugees-will-be-detained-or-deported-under-small-boats-plan
posted by deeker at 1:10 PM on March 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
Turns out Priti Patel (previous Home Secretary, absolute fucking monster) is "considering a potentially explosive intervention in the Commons on Monday over the bill" as "one of several Tory MPs who are known to have serious concerns and are seeking reassurances or changes to the bill this weekend." In particular, she is apparently concerned "about changes to the way children will be treated when arriving in the UK, and the way in which the new bill comes close to breaching international law."
Braverman is beyond wicked and Lineker was pulling his punches.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/11/revealed-child-refugees-will-be-detained-or-deported-under-small-boats-plan
posted by deeker at 1:10 PM on March 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
I've come to suspect that Nasty Home Secretary is a role they play - a pantomime villain sort of character, throwing red meat to the baying lunatics of the Home Counties and the Red Wall - and when they no longer have to play the role they're free to criticise positions that they would previously have had to embrace. Indeed, they are almost forced to to reclaim some kind of identity as a replica of a human being.
posted by Grangousier at 1:42 PM on March 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 1:42 PM on March 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
Grangousier, you probably have a point in general but I rather suspect Braverman doesn't have to dig too deep in the dressing up box to take on the role...
posted by deeker at 1:57 PM on March 12, 2023
posted by deeker at 1:57 PM on March 12, 2023
"reclaim some kind of identity as a replica of a human being" is a fantastic turn of phrase.
posted by eviemath at 2:07 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by eviemath at 2:07 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I mean, when you look to your left and see Priti Patel standing there, surely at least a momentary qualm flickers across your conscience?
posted by penguin pie at 2:21 PM on March 12, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by penguin pie at 2:21 PM on March 12, 2023 [6 favorites]
Contemporary Britain: A Play In Three Acts
PROLOGUE
The Tories heinously mismanage the Covid pandemic, line their pockets, and party, while The Country attends socially-distanced funerals of loved ones they never got to say goodbye to.
ACT I
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom, our core supporters don't seem to like us any more! We'll launch a hard right budget, that'll win them round.
The Country: No, the economy's not why we hate you, it's the Covid lies.
Budget tanks and almost drags The Country down with it.
ACT II
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom, our core supporters still don't seem to like us! We'll go hardcore on immigration, that'll win them round.
The Country: No, immigration's not why we hate you, it's the Covid lies. And the fact you tanked the economy.
Gary Lineker leads the BBC workforce into rebellion.
ACT III
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom.../
Revolution!
[Except sadly, in reaity, this cycle is just going to go on and on and on until the General Election finally arrives. Ever more surprising people will be found intervening to try and stop the Tories in their tracks, possibly until eventually we find Vladimir Putin himself running down Whitehall, shouting: "Guys, guys - honestly, I think you've gone a bit too far this time, be nicer..."]
posted by penguin pie at 2:48 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
PROLOGUE
The Tories heinously mismanage the Covid pandemic, line their pockets, and party, while The Country attends socially-distanced funerals of loved ones they never got to say goodbye to.
ACT I
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom, our core supporters don't seem to like us any more! We'll launch a hard right budget, that'll win them round.
The Country: No, the economy's not why we hate you, it's the Covid lies.
Budget tanks and almost drags The Country down with it.
ACT II
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom, our core supporters still don't seem to like us! We'll go hardcore on immigration, that'll win them round.
The Country: No, immigration's not why we hate you, it's the Covid lies. And the fact you tanked the economy.
Gary Lineker leads the BBC workforce into rebellion.
ACT III
Tories: Oh dear! For reasons we can't possibly fathom.../
Revolution!
[Except sadly, in reaity, this cycle is just going to go on and on and on until the General Election finally arrives. Ever more surprising people will be found intervening to try and stop the Tories in their tracks, possibly until eventually we find Vladimir Putin himself running down Whitehall, shouting: "Guys, guys - honestly, I think you've gone a bit too far this time, be nicer..."]
posted by penguin pie at 2:48 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Here is a video from January of this year, when Joan Salter, a holocaust survivor, criticized Suella Braverman to her face in the same terms Lineker used. Salter wrote about the event for The Guardian. Excerpt:
During the event on Friday in Braverman’s constituency, she spoke eloquently about the role of the Home Office in keeping this country safe. Her audience listened attentively as she told them that so many problems facing our country, from housing shortages to NHS waiting times, were caused by illegal migrants. It was up to her government, she claimed, to resolve this by deporting the problem.posted by Kattullus at 2:51 PM on March 12, 2023 [9 favorites]
Whether Braverman believes this to be the only solution, I cannot say, but it was obvious from questions asked by those listening that this was the message they had absorbed. Comments criticising the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for saving these desperate boat people, instead of leaving them to drown, were shared openly and to applause from others in the audience. Is it really less than a year since hundreds of thousands of Britons opened their homes to those fleeing the violence in Ukraine? Such is the power of words; such is the fragility of civilisation.
This is why I challenged Braverman about her use of language. I am not naive enough to think there are simple answers to the social and financial problems we are experiencing, and I can understand why the ordinary people of this country – often having to face a choice between food and heat – hope for a simple solution.
Gary Lineker to return to Match of the Day after BBC suspension: BBC also announces review of social media guidance [Guardian]
posted by ellieBOA at 3:36 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 3:36 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
On the 'negotiations' that led to this point...
Those BBC negotiations in full:
“Delete the tweets”
“No”
“Okay, well, apologise for them”
“No”
“We’ll get somebody else in to do your job if you don’t”
*Everyone downs tools*
“Will you at least promise not to tweet political stuff in the future?”
“No”
“Okay, we have a deal”
posted by deeker at 4:19 AM on March 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
Those BBC negotiations in full:
“Delete the tweets”
“No”
“Okay, well, apologise for them”
“No”
“We’ll get somebody else in to do your job if you don’t”
*Everyone downs tools*
“Will you at least promise not to tweet political stuff in the future?”
“No”
“Okay, we have a deal”
posted by deeker at 4:19 AM on March 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
Fiona Bruce has stepped down as an ambassador for Refuge over her comments on Question Time last week. Along with some flannel about things being taken out of context.
posted by biffa at 10:28 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 10:28 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
And as others have pointed out, Bruce has now faced greater consequences for that one line on TV than Johnson faced for actually breaking his wife's nose. Which is not to belittle her comment, but really...
Also worthy of note is that his ex-wife said in her memoirs that: “He hit me many times, over many years.”
posted by penguin pie at 10:36 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also worthy of note is that his ex-wife said in her memoirs that: “He hit me many times, over many years.”
posted by penguin pie at 10:36 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
"things being taken out of context..."
I literally cannot remember the last time when, looking at something in the desired context, I ended up thinking "fair enough, actually, in context that seemingly awful thing was fine." Same here: Bruce's intervention was wholly unnecessary, utterly minimising and depended upon statements made by Johnson allies (when, as penguin pie notes, his ex-wife stated otherwise).
How many domestic violence cases in which the victim is hospitalised are the first and only time? Not many, I'll wager.
Also, Bruce has been a bad presenter of what has become a bad programme. Time to move on.
posted by deeker at 10:47 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I literally cannot remember the last time when, looking at something in the desired context, I ended up thinking "fair enough, actually, in context that seemingly awful thing was fine." Same here: Bruce's intervention was wholly unnecessary, utterly minimising and depended upon statements made by Johnson allies (when, as penguin pie notes, his ex-wife stated otherwise).
How many domestic violence cases in which the victim is hospitalised are the first and only time? Not many, I'll wager.
Also, Bruce has been a bad presenter of what has become a bad programme. Time to move on.
posted by deeker at 10:47 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Back on topic: Those in the UK (or with access to BBC Parliament) can watch the Commons debate on the bill. It just started.
posted by deeker at 10:49 AM on March 13, 2023
posted by deeker at 10:49 AM on March 13, 2023
I think the Bruce thing is very much on topic, it goes directly to the capture of the BBC by successive Tory governments. The Lineker thing has led to the curtain being lifted a bit more on that capture, and part of that has been the playing up of many data points which shows how the BBC will ignore pro-government social media by those who work for it and come down against anything that the government might not like. They have demonstrated double standards on Sugar, Portillo and Andrew Neil but I'd argue the Bruce stuff is worse since she repeatedly defends the Tory perception week to week, on air.
posted by biffa at 11:26 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by biffa at 11:26 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
You're right, of course, biffa: the topic was the BBC's craven Tory sycophancy more than the actual bill. If anything, I was moving off-topic!
posted by deeker at 11:35 AM on March 13, 2023
posted by deeker at 11:35 AM on March 13, 2023
One of his tweets this morning - A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.
Puts the row in perspective and lets the BBC know he will not be silenced.
posted by night_train at 11:55 AM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
Puts the row in perspective and lets the BBC know he will not be silenced.
posted by night_train at 11:55 AM on March 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
Gary Lineker’s treatment exposes fact that image of warm, fuzzy BBC was always a lie by Jonathan Liew. Excerpt:
There has been a good deal of talk in recent days about independence and free speech, about not necessarily agreeing with what Lineker says but defending his right to say it, much of which is based on the thinly veiled fallacy that the BBC has ever been a truly impartial space. And what, on reflection, did we ever expect from an organisation that owes its very existence to the consent of those in power? What kind of world were the 17 white men who have served as its director general – 12 of them privately educated, 11 of them Oxbridge graduates, eight of them former military personnel – ever going to construct?posted by Kattullus at 2:25 PM on March 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
Perhaps the same world that fired Kenny Everett in the 70s for making a joke about the wife of a Conservative government minister, and reprimanded Tony Blackburn for railing with the utmost seriousness at striking miners. Perhaps the same world in which the security services get to decide who writes your news bulletins. Perhaps the same world in which Andrew Neil can anchor political coverage while being chairman of a rightwing magazine, while the presenter of a football highlights show can be suspended for criticising a rightwing government policy.
This has always been a playground of establishment power, and yet if the surreal last few days teach us anything it is that the terms of engagement may be shifting. Perhaps Dion Dublin really does have strong feelings on the UK’s obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Perhaps Alan Shearer genuinely thinks the new Illegal Migration Bill undermines our credibility to advocate human rights abroad. More likely, however, that they intuited something more elemental: a kind of corporate condescension, the unanswerable arrogance of a boss class that has never really valued them as people.
So they kicked out. You may take our plush sofas. You may take our slow-mo replays and Opta stats. But you’ll never take our freedom. And they won! An unapologetic Lineker will be back on our screens this weekend, flanked by his comrades-in-arms. The director general Tim Davie – conservative, privately educated, Cambridge, decent sort of chap – has been humiliated. And for all the alarmist rhetoric, the BBC’s response to Lineker has been entirely in keeping with its proud 100-year history of suppressing non-establishment viewpoints. The only difference is that these discussions are no longer occurring in sealed files behind numbered office doors, but in public, where everyone can hear you scream.
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The current BBC chair Richard Sharp has donated £400,000 to the conservative party and lent £800,000 to Boris Johnson.
posted by Lanark at 11:31 AM on March 10, 2023 [36 favorites]