Leaked messages from BBC staff described Gary Lineker as a “hero” and complained about Carol Voderman leaving the corporation, a GB News investigation can reveal.
A BBC employee wrote on an internal message board that “Gary Lineker, a hero of mine, needs to leave [the BBC] and any black flagship presenter with a shred of decency in their bones”.
The staffer was reacting to new social media rules put in place by the BBC in September 2023 which bans high-profile presenters from political campaigning.
The BBC employee wrote in November 2023: “If you have a hero beg them, no implore them to quit the BBC. Heroes need to speak up and give back to the world that put [sic] them on a pedestal.”
Gary Lineker is the BBC's highest-paid presenter PA The staffer claimed the new social media rules were “made by the normal suspects specifically aimed at Gary Lineker” and linked to an internal BBC training video on social media guidelines.
He continued: “The only person mentioned [in the video] is Gary Lineker - he is the target. My question is who next? I can say this, they can't.”
In January another BBC employee wrote: “Carol Vorderman has now joined LBC. I'm trying to think if any "right wing" people have been told they've been breaking impartiality rules, have left us and joined another outlet.”
The employee was referring to several high profile Left-wing journalists who have left the BBC to join other broadcasters including Emily Matlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall who all joined LBC in recent years.
Carol Vorderman has taken to Twitter to share the statement PAVorderman has been highly critical of GB News and the Conservatives; she tweeted on Wednesday “STOP THE TORIES”.
Evan Riggs, a journalist and fellow at Beck and Stone, told GB News: "Everyone knows that this new BBC rule will only be enforced when it is convenient for the BCC. No matter what regulations are put in place, the framing and selection of stories, not to mention the choice of who is to present them, will remain heavily biased.”
“Gary Lineker should leave the BBC, not because of this new rule, but because the BBC's media model is failing, their broadcasts are unjustifiably subsidised by the licence fee, and the entire brand is rapidly losing what's left of its reputation and viewership."
Lineker, who presents the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, came under fire for his comments in March 2023 comparing the UK’s asylum policy to Nazi Germany.
Lineker wrote on Twitter, now X: “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?"
The BBC star was responding to a Twitter user who criticised his previous attacks on then Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
The BBC’s new guidelines say that flagship presenters cannot endorse or attack political parties during or around the time while their programme is on the air.
They also cannot criticise the character of individual British politicians, work on a political campaign or discuss politics during an election period.
The BBC’s guidelines are enforced with the threat of disciplinary action against presenters, including a possible suspension of their employment for breaching their contract.
The news comes as GB News has exposed a series of internal comments from BBC staff, including posts spreading conspiracy theories and supporting antisemitic slogans.
The comments, all made on the BBC’s Slack communication channel for staff, include calling Rishi Sunak a “fascist”, warning the Conservatives might use a war scare with Russia to cancel the general election and claims that calling Hamas “the baddies” is too simplistic.
BBC staff also described GB News as “the opposition” and one wrote: “I wouldn't work for the Torygraph [Telegraph] for twice my salary”.
Other comments from BBC employees, all written since October 2023, describe the Conservatives as “evil”, Rishi Sunak as a “fascist” and “on the ropes” and criticise the appointment of “Tory cronies on the [BBC] board”.
The BBC were approached for comment.
