Gary Lineker has come under fire for putting his signature to an open letter calling for the government's Rwanda scheme to be scrapped.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak hopes to rush emergency legislation through parliament declaring Rwanda a safe destination for asylum seekers following the supreme court's ruling against the scheme last month.
Along with Together with Refugees, Lineker has joined the likes of actors Brian Cox, David Morrissey and dozens of other high-profile names in slamming the government's plans.
Lineker said: "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 open letter reads: "Our government is still trying to banish people fleeing persecution to Rwanda despite the highest court in the land ruling the scheme unlawful.
Gary Lineker is one of several celebs to sign the letter
PA"Tens of thousands of people are stuck in limbo waiting for their refugee protection to be processed, separated from their families and barred from working.
"These policies aren't working for refugees and they aren't working for local communities.
"That's why we have come together to say we've had enough. Enough of the division. Enough of the short-term thinking. Enough of the wasted human potential. And it's why we now call for something better."
The Together with Refugees open letter then outlines its three main aims that it is imploring the government to implement.
It asks political leaders to commit to a "fair new plan" which consists of "ensuring protection for people fleeing war and persecution by upholding the UK's commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum and by scrapping Rwanda scheme".
The letter also asks the government to "provide a proper strategy for welcoming refugees by ensuring fair, rapid decisions on their application for asylum".
And finally, it asks leaders of political parting to "forge stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes".
A number of license fee payers and MPs have hit out at Lineker's stance, including Jonathan Gullis who fumed 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."
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Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him? https://t.co/bxxxbj5Twb
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 11, 2023
Lineker slapped back at the MP as he posted: "Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?"
Elsewhere, Tory party deputy chairman and GB News star Lee Anderson said: "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."
And fellow MP Gareth Johnson hit out: "Yet again BBC presenters are ignoring the BBC's own guidelines by publicly campaigning. They seem to be laughing at their own bosses."
