One former BBC information editor mentioned the newsroom would agree about Lineker’s tweet being in breach of tips, however would “examine and distinction how the chairman is allowed to remain”.
Mr Davie now faces the prospect of being hauled in entrance of the tradition choose committee. Kevin Brennan, a member of the committee, mentioned the BBC’s dealing with of the affair had been “totally pathetic”.
The Labour MP advised The Telegraph: “It ought to by no means have come to this. What does it matter what Gary Lineker thinks about something? They’ve turned one thing that’s utterly trivial into an existential disaster for the BBC.”
He added that the BBC management had “misplaced the dressing room” and displayed “completely appalling mismanagement” by “simply giving strategy to political strain”.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour chief, additionally criticised the BBC’s determination. “The BBC is just not performing impartially by caving in to Tory MPs who’re complaining about Gary Lineker,” he mentioned. “They received this one badly incorrect and now they’re very, very uncovered.”
‘He damages the BBC’s credibility’
Roger Mosey, a former head of BBC tv, mentioned: “Richard Sharp ought to go. He damages the BBC’s credibility.”
Mr Sharp mentioned he had by no means hidden his long-standing relationship with Mr Johnson and insisted that his appointment as BBC chairman was truthful. The Liberal Democrats known as for Mr Sharp to resign from his place.
In the meantime, anger on the Tory backbenches grew, with 37 Tory MPs and friends writing to Mr Davie urging him to take additional disciplinary motion towards Lineker and pressure him to apologise for the incident.
Bill Cash, the veteran Tory MP, mentioned it was “inevitable” that the Lineker affair will “set the scene for Authorities choices about methods to make enhancements, together with impartiality, that are sure to loom massive when the overview is accomplished in Might this yr”.
Mr Davie, who was on the BBC’s workplaces in Washington on Saturday evening, was locked in talks with advisers to attempt to resolve the dispute with Lineker.
The director-general is scheduled to return to London on Sunday.
It’s understood that BT Sport has not held any discussions with Lineker about returning to the broadcaster as a presenter.
