![\"Gary](\"https:\/\/bright-green.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Gary-Lineker.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Green Party of England and Wales has come out in support of the football presenter and pundit Gary Lineker following his suspension from his BBC <\/em>presenting duties. The Green Party voted for an emergency motion at its spring conference which said that it \u201cexpresses solidarity\u201d with Lineker.<\/p>\n The Match of the Day <\/em>presenter was stood down from his role after comments he made about the government\u2019s rhetoric and policies around migration. He described the government\u2019s policies trying to stop migrants from reaching the UK via the English Channel as \u201cimmeasurably cruel\u201d and the language as \u201cnot dissimilar to that used by Germany in the [19]30s\u201d.<\/p>\n The\u00a0BBC\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>actions have been heavily criticised, with a number of other football presenters, pundits and commentators refusing to present on\u00a0Match of the Day<\/em>.<\/p>\n Jack Lenox, the party\u2019s culture, media and sport spokesperson described the BBC<\/em>\u2018s decision to suspend Lineked as \u201cindefensible\u201d. He said: \u201cThe BBC\u2019s decision to come down so hard on Gary Lineker over his tweets is indefensible.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to say: \u201cthe point Lineker was making around the deliberately inhumane approach of Conservative asylum policy was entirely valid.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe applaud him and the football community for standing together on this issue, showing teamwork and leadership on such a critical topic. Ironically, that\u2019s something that\u2019s severely lacking from our government.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deliberate stoking of this issue as part of an incessant Tory culture war also serves as a distraction from the urgent humanitarian crisis on our doorstep. The issue of desperate refugees should not be used as a political football.\u201d<\/p>\n This article is jointly published with Left Foot Forward<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Image credit: Hammersmith and Fulham Council \u2013 Creative Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n PS. We hope you enjoyed this article. Bright Green has got big plans for the future to publish many more articles like this. You can help make that happen. Please donate to Bright Green now\u00a0donate to Bright Green now<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The post Green Party conference sends message of solidarity to Gary Lineker<\/a> appeared first on Bright Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n