By Lucy Caulkett-
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has attacked the BBC over comments made by one of its presenters, Gary Lineker, exposing a level of hypocrisy in the process of her attack.
Ms Donelan was speaking to The News Agents podcast about BBC impartiality in light of remarks 62-year-old Lineker had made on the same show about the World Cup in Qatar and racism in America, accusing him of impartiality.
On the other hand she expressed her views that Jeremy Clarkson had the right to express the deplorable views he expressed on Meghan Markle in The Sun Newspaper as part of his right to freedom of speech.
In a column for The Sun newspaper published in December, Clarkson, 62, has expressed disdain against Meghan Markle, stating that he “hated” Meghan Markle and dreamed of her being paraded through British towns and publicly shamed.
His words horrified the nation and there were calls from 61 Mps for action to be taken by The Sun against Jeremy Clarkson. ITV has tried to separate Clarkson’s role as audience puller for their television channel, from the spill over effect it has in print to reach a very wide audience indeed, and potentially incite a hate movement and perhaps plans to attack Markle, if the opportunity arose.
Meghan Markle has been a divisive figure in the Uk, ever since the fall out between the duke and duchess of Sussex and the royal family, which occurred shortly after the marriage of the two. The acrimony has been strong between the two camps and their army of supporters has been strong, with sensitivities very high.
The level of pubic anger against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their Netflix and now the publication of their book Spate has been deduced to be indicative of the state of mind of Jeremy Clarkson , in terms of determining his motives.
The British public are divided along partisans lines over the fall out between the Sussexes and the royal family- and though a high percentage believe Prince Harry has gone below the belt in his many revelations in the book, but a feeling of anger and provocation does not justify an incitement of abuse and assault on a woman due to having personal hate for them.
Ms Connelly’s comment appeared to be supporting Victoria Newton’s decision to originally authorise the publication of the article.
Ms Donelan appeared to be encouraging the idea of a right to irresponsible behaviour in the case of Clarkson, but not in the case Of Gary Lineker in expressing an opinion which at worst cannot be as harmful as that stated by Jeremy Clarkson. The contradiction in the Culture Secretary’s stance was stark and clear to see.
In relation to Clarkson’s comments, Ms Donelan said: “I wouldn’t have said what he said and I don’t align myself with the comments that he made, categorically no” but added: “But I am a believer of freedom of speech. I think that he had the right to say what he wanted to say.
Her comments ignore the apology from The Sun which admitted that freedom of speech comes with responsibility. Ms Donelan the other hand criticising Gary Lineka’s comments in accusing America of being an extremely racist country
Reflecting on BBC impartiality, Ms Donelan said: “There is a problem with impartiality and the BBC, they would say that they’ve recognised that themselves.”
In light of the broadcaster’s impartiality rules, she went on to criticise Lineker, telling hosts Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel: “There’s been a few things that Gary Lineker has said over the years.
“And as a commentator on a public service broadcaster, you just have to be conscious of the comments that he makes.
“I’m thinking their most recent one was when he was over in Qatar, and he did an interview… and he referenced America and there were some very derogatory questionable comments.”
Ms Donelan was referring to comments made by Lineker on The News Agents podcast in December, where he described the US as “an extraordinarily racist country” as he reflected on issues which surrounded Qatar’s bid to host the World Cup.
When asked by Maitlis whether she believed Lineker’s comments “crossed an impartiality line”, Ms Donelan replied: “The general point wasn’t about this is one individual, this is the problem for the BBC, the problem of the BBC is Gary Lineker.
“That’s not the problem.
“What I was doing was using a range of examples to show that is highlighting a culture, which allows that kind of behaviour and accepts it. Which is what they need to deal with.”
During her interview on the podcast Ms Donelan also addressed recent comments made by Jeremy Clarkson about the Duchess of Sussex.
In a column for The Sun newspaper published in December, Clarkson, 62, said he “hated” Meghan Markle and dreamed of her being paraded through British towns and publicly shamed.
Of Clarkson’s comments, Ms Donelan said: “I wouldn’t have said what he said and I don’t align myself with the comments that he made, categorically no” but added: “But I am a believer of freedom of speech. I think that he had the right to say what he wanted to say.”
The full interview with Michelle Donelan is available to listen to on The News Agents podcast on Global Player.