BBC stars Gary Lineker and Emily Maitlis reported to Beeb bosses over anti-Brexit tweets
BEEB stars including Gary Lineker have been reported to bosses for allegedly spreading anti-Brexit propaganda. A top Tory MP has revealed he has filed a number of complaints to the BBC about the tweets of high-profile employees. John Whittingdale, who oversaw the Beeb in his previous role as Culture Secretary, singled out Match of the Day […]
BEEB stars including Gary Lineker have been reported to bosses for allegedly spreading anti-Brexit propaganda.
A top Tory MP has revealed he has filed a number of complaints to the BBC about the tweets of high-profile employees.
John Whittingdale, who oversaw the Beeb in his previous role as Culture Secretary, singled out Match of the Day host Mr Lineker and Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis.
But BBC chiefs are refusing to confirm whether or not they’ve acted on the complaints.
Mr Whittingdale told The House magazine he wasn’t worried about former Beeb executives going to work in politics.
He added: “I have much more problem with, for instance, BBC employees expressing highly political views.
“I have made several complaints about that.”
The ex-minister, who backs Brexit, singled out Mr Lineker and Ms Maitlis.
The football anchor is a passionate Remain supporter who has made speeches at People’s Vote rallies.
Last week he described Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson as “back-stabber Boris” while speaking up for Rory Stewart.
He recently called Brexit a “poisoned chalice” and dubbed Nigel Farage a “charlatan”.
Ms Maitlis, the host of Newsnight, has also been accused of bias over her attitude to Brexit.
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She regularly shares articles by Remainer journalists with headlines such as “Brexit is putting me off this whole ‘will of the people’ idea”.
A BBC spokesman refused to comment on whether or not they had received the complaints from Mr Whittingdale and whether they were planning to take action.
Mr Lineker has previously escaped being disciplined by bosses who say he isn’t expected to be impartial because he doesn’t cover politics.
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