Ex-BBC Trust chair Lord Patten suggested it was ‘unfortunate’ that Mr Sharp is no longer ‘out there batting for the BBC’ as he fights for his job NickMDuffy reports
Lord Birt said he “would have hoped” to have heard from the chairman on the issue, while Lord Patten suggested director-general Tim Davie was put in an uncomfortable position by his absence from the spotlight, adding the chairman should have intervened to deflate the row and kick the issue “into the long grass”.
Lord Patten said it “quite right to celebrate the quality of Gary Lineker as a broadcaster” and that “a free citizen should have a free tongue” to express views that “happen to be very popular” among many. He added: “I don’t think Gary Lineker is a terrible threat to democracy. You can’t actually shut everybody up who isn’t an employee. I don’t see how you can have firm guidelines about non-staff, who aren’t doing news and current affairs, without restricting people’s freedom of speech.”in “exactly the same way” as BBC staff., but said his comments likening new asylum rules to Germany in the 30s were “over the top” and in breach of guidelines.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Horse death on set of Lord Of The Rings show prompts condemnation of producersThe animal is said to have died on 21 March prior to rehearsals for the show in the UK.
Read more »
Glasgow University to honour Lord of the Rings authorThe University of Glasgow is to honour Lord of The Rings author JRR Tolkien on the 70th anniversary of his visit to the campus to give a lecture.
Read more »