Ex-Tory minister says Lineker must still ‘apologise’ for ‘disgusting’ 30s Germany tweet

Former Conservative minister Andrew Percy has called for Gary Lineker to apologise for comparing the Government’s immigration policy to the language of 1930s Germany, describing it as “disgusting”.

In a Commons debate on the government’s role in upholding BBC impartiality, Percy, a vice chair of the antisemitism all-party parliamentary group,said:“There is one element of Mr Lineker’s statement on Twitter that is unacceptable.

“As somebody who grew up surrounded by people who had their lives turned on their head by the Nazi regime in Germany, I hope that the minister will comment on his references to 1930s Germany.”

“He can say what he likes about the bill, but he should have the decency to apologise for comparing any actions of a democratically elected goovernment with 1930’s Germany. It was disgusting.”

Culture minister Julia Lopez replied: “I also think it was distasteful to compare the Government’s actions or otherwise to the Putin regime, I think it is a disgraceful comparison to make, and I think it is way off the mark.”

Percy also criticised Labour shadow culture minister Lucy Powell, after she told MPs Lineker being taken off air for tweeting something “the Government doesn’t like” sounds like “Putin’s Russia”.

Percy told the Commons: “I hope that the shadow secretary of state will reflect on her comparison of this Government to the Putin regime which, of course, is engaged in war crimes and the murder of men, women, and children in Ukraine. That was beneath her.”

Powell had earlier said:“This week’s whole sorry saga has raised serious questions about the Government’s role in upholding BBC impartiality. They’ve got their fingerprints all over it.”