New photo BBC boss Lord Hall says Gary Lineker can continue to tweet political views

The director-general of the BBC has said Gary Lineker (pictured) can continue to tweet his anti-Brexit views as he is not part of the 'news and current affairs universe'

The director-general of the BBC has said Gary Lineker can continue to tweet his anti-Brexit views as he is not part of the Corporation's 'news and current affairs universe'.

The Match of the Day host, who frequently airs his political opinions on social media, has repeatedly been accused of breaching the BBC's strict guidelines on impartiality.

Lineker even caused a rift amongst former World Cup teammates this month when he called out his 'hero', England legend Peter Shilton, for praising Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg online.

The 58-year-old also told former teammate Chris Waddle to 'stick to football' when he said it would be best if Theresa May left the EU with no deal.

Lord Hall, the boss of the BBC, has now come out in defence of Lineker, who voted Remain and has publicly backed the campaign for a second referendum.

He said that as the face of the BBC's sport coverage, Lineker was not held to the same standard as the corporation's political journalists when it came to impartiality.

Speaking to the Financial Times, he added: 'There are some people that aren't part of the [BBC's] news and current affairs universe where you can afford to take a different view and I would put Gary in that position.' 

Lineker has rebuffed criticism of his outspoken political stance in the past by saying he is a freelancer and so does not have to abide by the BBC guidelines.

In February last year when he was told by a Twitter user that as a BBC employee he should not comment on politics he replied: 'I'm freelance and I'll talk sh** about whatever I like on my twitter feed, thanks.'

Lord Hall (pictured), the boss of the BBC, has now come out in defence of Lineker, who voted Remain and has publicly backed the campaign for a second referendum

Lineker, who is outspoken on social media about Brexit, tweeted Shilton and also fellow England teammate Chris Waddle 

BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew told Lineker he would be sacked if he also spoke publicly about politics in the way the former England striker has done on many occasions 

The BBC's editorial guidelines state staff, presenters and even those who contribute to programmes can affect the corporation's impartiality through their 'external activities', especially if there is a conflict of interest. 

It reads: 'The external activities of staff, presenters and others who contribute to our output can also affect the BBC's reputation for impartiality. 

'A conflict of interest may arise when the external activities of anyone involved in making our content affects the BBC's reputation for integrity, independence and high standards, or may be reasonably perceived to do so.

'There is a danger of conflict of interest in every area of programme or content making.'

Lineker frequently discusses Brexit on his Twitter page, railing against what he said were the dire consequences of a no deal Brexit.

'We're not actually, really, seriously, possibly contemplating a no deal Brexit, are we? Democracy is democracy and all that but there are limits to how much we want to self-harm, surely,' he wrote.

Last month he hosted a Q&A at a 'People's Vote' rally in Westminster attended by 3,000 people and interviewed Boris Johnson's brother Jo, who quit as a minister over Mrs May's handling of Brexit.

Lineker, an outspoken Remainer, appeared at a 'People's Vote' rally last month where he interviewed Jo Johnson (pictured)

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News Pictures BBC boss Lord Hall says Gary Lineker can continue to tweet political views

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