Gary Lineker has extended his thanks to his fans for the "love and support" he received after being criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
The Match Of The Day host compared the language used to launch a new asylum policy with 1930s Germany. Mr Lineker was also criticised by immigration minister Robert Jenrick who said he is "so far out of step with the British public" after calling the government's measures "cruel".
Following the criticism on Wednesday, Lineker wrote on Twitter “anything going on?” and then followed this up with another post saying the “freedom of speech champions” were “demanding silence from those with whom they disagree”.
“I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly),” he also wrote. “I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice.”
On Tuesday, Lineker wrote on Twitter about a Home Office video from Ms Braverman which was due to outline the government's plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats. The video would also have argued that the UK is being "overwhelmed".
The ex-England striker wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. 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.”
Ms Braverman told ITV's Good Morning Britain that she was "very disappointed" by his comments. She added: “Equating our measures – which are lawful, necessary and fundamentally compassionate – to 1930s Germany is irresponsible and I disagree with that characterisation.”
Ms Braverman also claimed that there is "likely billions" of migrants "eager" to come to the UK. However, GMB presenter Susanna Reid quizzed this, saying: "On what planet is that likely and how is that not inflammatory language?”
Meanwhile on Lineker’s comments, Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: “My children are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and I think those sorts of words should not be thrown around lightly.”
Downing Street also hit out at Mr Lineker’s comments. The the Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters on Wednesday: “It’s obviously disappointing to see someone whose salary is funded by hard-working British (licence fee) payers using that kind of rhetoric and seemingly dismissing their legitimate concerns that they have about small boats crossings and illegal migration.
“But beyond that, it’s up to the BBC, who I think have said today that they’ll be having a conversation with Gary Lineker, and it’s not for me to comment further.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie said he had not spoken to Lineker. When asked how many "strikes" Lineker had on social media, he said: " wouldn’t talk specifically about individuals; I don’t think it’s right.
"I think the BBC absolutely puts the highest value on impartiality and that’s clearly important to us.”
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC has social media guidance, which is published. Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media. We have appropriate internal processes in place if required.”
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