Gary Lineker has been suspended as Match of the Day presenter after the corporation said his criticism of the government’s asylum policies breached its impartiality guidelines.
In a dramatic and unexpected escalation of a crisis that has been brewing all week, the corporation took the decision to take its highest-paid presenter off its flagship football show after he was criticised by Tory MPs and the rightwing media.
The move by the BBC prompted other well-known broadcasters – including Lineker’s co-presenters on the programme – to come out in support of him.
Ministers put the BBC…
