Rishi Sunak said in interviews yesterday that he did not wish to become involved in the controversy surrounding Gary Lineker and whether he should have been suspended by the BBC for his tweet criticizing the government’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. It is up to the BBC to settle these issues, he stated, refusing to take sides.
While No. 10 is attempting to maintain neutrality in the disagreement between Lineker and BBC management, some members of the Conservative family are not being silent. Tim Bale, an academic, refers to pro-Conservative newspapers as “the party in the media,” and they are outraged by the BBC’s decision to reinstate Lineker without an apology.
This afternoon in the House of Commons, there are two critical topics that should generate much debate.
At 12.30 pm, a transport minister will reply to a UQ from Iain Stewart (Conservative) about last week’s statement that HS2 will be delayed.
Next, at around 1.15 p.m., a cultural minister will react to a UQ from Lucy Powell, the opposition culture secretary, regarding BBC’s impartiality.
Then, two assertions follow. Michael Gove, the minister of equality, will brief the House of Commons on his intention to force housebuilding businesses out of business unless they agree to pay to the fund to remove hazardous cladding. It may begin at 2:00 p.m.
Lastly, at 3 p.m., the minister of defense, Alex Chalk, will brief members of parliament on the Aukus deal struck by Rishi Sunak in California yesterday.
