BBC chairman must resign says Stone as Lineker saga sheds light 'on a huge failure at the very top' of corporation
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THE position of the BBC chairman is "untenable and he must resign," according to Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP, Jamie Stone.
He made the plea following the temporary removal of Gary Lineker from the Match of the Day football highlights programme on Saturday over a tweet the presenter made on the Government's Illegal Immigration Bill and its policy approach to stopping the boats crossing the English Channel. The corporation claimed he had breached their guidelines.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport, made the call during a debate on 'The Government's Role in Upholding the Impartiality of the BBC' and also questioned the transparency of Richard Sharp's appointment to the role as chairman.
Mr Stone said:"The Lineker saga that has unfolded over the past few days has shed light on a huge failure at the very top of the BBC and indeed the need to protect its independence.
"The BBC needs leadership that values free speech whilst maintaining fair and consistent rules on impartiality. But whilst Richard Sharp remains as chair, a man who facilitated an £800,000 loan guarantee for (then Prime Minister) Boris Johnson and a major donor to the Tory party, the integrity of the BBC is at risk. His position is untenable and he must resign.
The MP added: "The Government must also be held accountable. The Government-appointed panel that approved Sharp as the prime candidate for his current role included a Conservative party donor and prospective MP, as well as the wife of the former chair of the Spectator who worked with Boris Johnson whilst he was editor. It is only right that questions are being asked, once again, about the transparency of Sharp's appointment."
Meanwhile, Gary Lineker will return to football coverage this weekend after a deal was struck with the BBC which is now to launch an independent review of its social media guidelines.
The decision to take Lineker off the Match of the Day caused massive disruption to football coverage on the BBC as fellow presenters and commentators decided not to take part in programmes in support of their colleague.
