Will Gary Lineker be presenting Motd on Saturday?

[existentialist]

That being paid vastly more than everyone else in the company, he is an exemplary employee. Rather than one who thinks the rules don’t apply to him. The BBC has just had an investigation into its culture which has found that stars think they’re untouchable.

And he didn’t leave of his own accord. He was pushed.

He wasn't paid as much as he was for any notion of exemplariness - he was paid that much, because the BBC (and, presumably, he) considered it a sufficient amount to keep him working for them.

 

[Elpenor]

He DID accept the consequences. He even anticipated them - he acknowledged his error, and resigned, without any compensation.

What else should he have to do?

I said expect, not accept

 

[VivaE]

That being paid vastly more than everyone else in the company, he is an exemplary employee. Rather than one who thinks the rules don’t apply to him. The BBC has just had an investigation into its culture which has found that stars think they’re untouchable.

And he didn’t leave of his own accord. He was pushed.

It's a fair point. He could be accused of having his cake and eating it too re the salary he was happy to accept despite the disparity between his personal views and those of the ones imposed upon him. Money talks.

But then, no one's calling him St Gary or trying to paint him as one. Least of all him.

 

[Elpenor]

He DID accept the consequences. He even anticipated them - he acknowledged his error, and resigned, without any compensation.

What else should he have to do?

Also I don’t see the fact that he’s done as you describe is particularly worth celebrating. You don’t get a medal for doing the right thing you should do it anyway

As for resign without compensation it’s probably a gross misconduct situation following a final written warning.

 

[Lotte]

Jews have been historically compared to rats, yes. Same with any other group of people who are seen as inferior. But I don't think Lineker is an antisemite.

 

[existentialist]

I said expect, not accept

I think we can safely say he also expected them.

 

[existentialist]

Also I don’t see the fact that he’s done as you describe is particularly worth celebrating. You don’t get a medal for doing the right thing you should do it anyway

As for resign without compensation it’s probably a gross misconduct situation following a final written warning.

I'm not suggesting it should be celebrated. I'm suggesting that, given the circumstances, he handled himself with maturity.

This is all starting to sound a bit like someone wanting to kick a corpse.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to provide an ample supply of corpses on a daily basis, in Gaza. But let's not talk about that, eh?

 

[Elpenor]

I think we can safely say he also expected them.

Not sure that we can but whatever; he’s off. I preferred him on We Are The Champions anyway

 

[existentialist]

Also I don’t see the fact that he’s done as you describe is particularly worth celebrating. You don’t get a medal for doing the right thing you should do it anyway

As for resign without compensation it’s probably a gross misconduct situation following a final written warning.

That might be true in a normal working situation, but this was definitely political/ideological. There have been voices clamouring for his sacking - on purely ideological grounds - for a very long time, now.

 

[existentialist]

Not sure that we can but whatever; he’s off. I preferred him on We Are The Champions anyway

I've never really seen him "at work" - I don't follow much sport, so I've no idea how or whether he's worth what he was paid.

 

[trashpony]

He wasn't paid as much as he was for any notion of exemplariness - he was paid that much, because the BBC (and, presumably, he) considered it a sufficient amount to keep him working for them.

Let’s see who else wants to pay him the same vast sum and then we can evaluate if he was value for money or just fleecing the UK

 

[Petcha]

He was easily the best football presenter in the UK and can name his price I imagine, wherever he goes

 

[Ax^]

Let’s see who else wants to pay him the same vast sum and then we can evaluate if he was value for money or just fleecing the UK

well at least for once i don't see him turning up at GB news s spouting racist bullocks for one last paycheck likely many an older ex BBC star

so there is that

 

[trashpony]

well at least for once i don't see him turning up at GB news s spouting racist bullocks for one last paycheck likely many an older ex BBC star

so there is that

I’ve never watched GB News so have no idea who you’re talking about

 

[Elpenor]

That might be true in a normal working situation, but this was definitely political/ideological. There have been voices clamouring for his sacking - on purely ideological grounds - for a very long time, now.

The voices clamouring for his sacking don’t mean he can deliberately ignore his employers policies without consequence though

 

[Elpenor]

Meanwhile, Israel continues to provide an ample supply of corpses on a daily basis, in Gaza. But let's not talk about that, eh?

There’s already a thread to talk about that

 

[Lotte]

I’ve never watched GB News so have no idea who you’re talking about

I was going to say Matt Le Tissier as he's a regular on there, but he's ex-Sky. Ron Atkinson's been on there as well. Makes me so fucking proud to be a Wednesdayite

 

[existentialist]

The voices clamouring for his sacking don’t mean he can deliberately ignore his employers policies without consequence though

He has not ignored his employer's policies without consequence, though, has he? Unless there's some unwritten pound of flesh clause you think he's somehow skipping past.

Like I asked earlier, what else do you think he should have to do?

 

[existentialist]

There’s already a thread to talk about that

It's context.

 

[Elpenor]

He has not ignored his employer's policies without consequence, though, has he? Unless there's some unwritten pound of flesh clause you think he's somehow skipping past.

Like I asked earlier, what else do you think he should have to do?

Nothing. But I don’t think him leaving the bbc is some sort of conspiracy which you seem to be getting at

 

[Lord Camomile]

I’ve no idea. I don’t work for the bbc. But they’re currently in force and Lineker has chosen to work for a company which has them in place.

And we know all about the people who have been ‘getting away with it’. Huw Edwards springs to mind. Lineker is their highest paid employee. He needs to be setting an example, not demonstrating that he’s above the rules for the little people.

Fair enough. You linked to the current guidelines and said he'd been flouting them for years, so I assumed you were relatively familiar with them. The two changes in the past five years were in the news (I did a quick google to double-check when I posted), both times following people getting upset with something he'd posted.

And I sort of take your point about setting an example and not being above the rules, but at the same time, isn't that sort of what we would want people with power and a platform to do? Use them to raise and highlight issues and talking points that others with less security and visibility can't? Feels like celebrities are often getting a bit of kicking for not speaking out.

Also can see the "have your cake and eat it argument" put forward by another poster. Again, though, he wouldn't have that same ability if he wasn't on the BBC, so it's also a bit of a rock and a hidden place.

For the record, it's not like I think he's a saint, or champion for the people or 'owt. I just think he's done at least a handful of commendable things, certainly compared to others in his position, and it's not quite so all or nothing.

 

[existentialist]

Nothing. But I don’t think him leaving the bbc is some sort of conspiracy which you seem to be getting at

Ah. I think you are imagining I am thinking things I'm not. And I think you are being somewhat naive in believing that the fuss about Lineker's social media posts - which is invariably right wing frothing - isn't relevant in the situation around a popular public persona.

 

[tommers]

People have been telling him to not talk about politics for years. The best one was when they all did the "if you like refugees so much why don't you house one?" when he was.

Employing Campbell is definitely a stain on his character but he seems like his heart is in the right place.

 

[Lord Camomile]

People have been telling him to not talk about politics for years. The best one was when they all did the "if you like refugees so much why don't you house one?" when he was.

Employing Campbell is definitely a stain on his character but he seems like his heart is in the right place.

Well, quite.

I think both hires for the The Rest is Politics podcast tell you enough (though I honestly don't know how involved he is with all the appointments? ), but likewise, as you say, he also put his money (and home) where his mouth is in a fairly significant way, on one occasion, at least.

 

[Maggot]

Let’s see who else wants to pay him the same vast sum and then we can evaluate if he was value for money or just fleecing the UK

Fleecing the uk


I can understand why news and current affairs people at he BBC are supposed to appear impartial, but why do sports presenters have to?

 

[Sasaferrato]

I note that Lineker, whilst trying to occupy the moral high ground, had no problem with accepting over a million a year of extorted money.

 

[planetgeli]

I note that Lineker, whilst trying to occupy the moral high ground, had no problem with accepting over a million a year of extorted money.

Name that lamppost Sass, we'll make a revolutionary socialist of you yet.

 

[Wilf]

GARY LINEKER MISSED SOMETHING WHEN HE RETWEETED SOMETHING.

(total deaths in Gaza, over 55 000).

 

[Petcha]

I note that Lineker, whilst trying to occupy the moral high ground, had no problem with accepting over a million a year of extorted money.

Agreed. The guy should be working for tea and biccies. And 'extorted'? How exactly?

 

[trashpony]

Fleecing the uk


I can understand why news and current affairs people at he BBC are supposed to appear impartial, but why do sports presenters have to?

It’s not the point. It’s in his contract.