Gary Lineker, the former English footballer and famous BBC sports presenter, is facing sharp criticism from the British Conservative government, and is at risk of losing his job, for likening the government's plan on irregular immigration to the rhetoric of "Nazi Germany".

Lineker said - through his Twitter account 3 days ago - that the law under which asylum seekers will be detained and deported is "more than terrible." This came in response to a video published by Interior Minister Suela Braverman on the Irregular Immigration Law.

"There is no massive refugee influx, we are taking in much less refugees than other major European countries. This is just a harsh policy targeting the most vulnerable people with language not unlike that used by Germany in the 1930s," he added.

There is no huge influx.

We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I'm out of order?

- Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023

These developments come at a time when the British government is being criticized for a bill that puts severe restrictions on the right to asylum and an end to irregular crossings of the Channel by small boats.

# Britain .. Gary Lineker likens the government's plan on illegal immigration to the speech of "Nazi Germany" pic.twitter.com/BysfS7cFUM

- Al-Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) March 9, 2023

Project and criticism

The bill would provide for the speedy deportation of migrants who arrive in this way and prevent them from seeking asylum, and thus settling in the UK or applying for citizenship.

It also facilitates detention of migrants until deportation to another country deemed safe.

The draft law - which came after the tightening of immigration laws - sparked a wave of condemnation from refugee aid associations, which consider it contrary to international law.

In her response to the famous broadcaster's statements, Braverman expressed - in statements to the British network "ITV" (ITV) - "disappointment" that he compared her statements to the discourse of Nazism in Germany at the beginning of the twentieth century.

"It would be irresponsible to equate our procedures, which are essentially legal, necessary and compassionate, with Germany in the 1930s, and I do not agree with that description," the home secretary said.

The home secretary and Conservative MPs are slamming broadcaster and former English soccer star Gary Lineker for saying the government's new refugee deterrence law is similar to the Nazis' 1930s immigration suppression laws.

Do you agree with his opinion?!

pic.twitter.com/GMAXPrJ4N9

- Britain in Arabic 🇬🇧 (@TheUKAr) March 8, 2023

For its part, the Prime Minister's Office denounced Lineker's comments, and the Prime Minister's private press secretary said in statements to the media, "It is disappointing that someone uses this kind of rhetoric, when his salary is funded by British license fee payers."

The Prime Minister's office accused Lineker of "ignoring the legitimate concerns of Britons with regard to small boat crossings and illegal immigration".

Invitations to dismiss

Representatives and politicians affiliated with the ruling Conservative Party called on the BBC to dismiss Lineker from his job on the background of his comments, amid their assertion of the legality of the procedures stipulated in the controversial law.

MP Simon Job wrote on Twitter: "If I had broken the BBC's social media policy over and over while working for them, I would have had more than just words in my ear. Why is the rule on staff different when it comes to stars like Lineker? This is sickening." Especially since his salary could be used to save BBC Local Radio."

"My children are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, and I think those words should not be said lightly, especially since Lineker's salary is paid by the taxpayer. It is disappointing that he is so out of touch with the British public," Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told the media.

Jenrick on Lineker: "My children are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, and I think those sorts of words should not be thrown around lightly. Gary Lineker is paid for by the British taxpayer. And it's disappointing that he is so far out of step with the British public.”

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) March 8, 2023

In turn, Conservative MP Andrea Jenkins said on her Twitter account, "This time Lineker has certainly gone too far, and if the BBC does not act, I think we must stop funding them."

'This time Gary Lineker has certainly gone too far and if the BBC doesn't act then I think we should defund them.' @AndreaJenkyns MP says the BBC should 'most definitely' sack 'keyboard warrior' Gary Lineker for flouting their impartiality rules .

pic.twitter.com/y5y24GktOX

— GB News (@GBNEWS) March 8, 2023

On its response, the BBC said it had "serious conversations" with Lineker, the network's highest-paid presenter, about what the editorial policy entails to be neutral on social media.

Indifference and support

Lineker did not care about the wave of sharp criticism and predictions of losing his job, as he continued to tweet on his Twitter account, defying all critics and adhering to his opinion against the new government's measures against refugees.

For his part, the Labor MP and former leader of the party, Jeremy Corbyn, commented in support of Lineker, "Well done, Gary, the plan and the law are disgusting."

Well done Gary.

The plan and the Bill are disgusting!

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 8, 2023

"As a German, I can tell you this: when politicians speak in a language not unlike that used in Germany in the 1930s, I understand it. Why? Because I have learned about it all my life," Tanja Bultmann, professor of immigration and diaspora history, told the BBC.

"The language we have heard from this government, no matter how many times they claim otherwise, is in some respects no different from that used in Germany in the 1930s," Bultmann added.

Hi @BBC,


As a German I can tell you this: when politicians speak in a language not dissimilar to that used in 1930s Germany, I recognize it.

Why?

Because I have been taught about it all my life—and that it needs to be called out and rejected.

It's a duty to do so, in fact.

🧵 https://t.co/l9SoW1Cdyj

— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@TanjaBueltmann) March 8, 2023

Reporter Emily Maitlis questioned the BBC's contrasting stance on "freedom of expression", citing Lineker's previous criticism of Qatar for hosting the World Cup while the BBC had allowed him to do so.

Maitlis wrote on her Twitter account, "It is strange that Lineker was free to raise questions about Qatar's human rights record - with the support of the BBC - in relation to the World Cup, but she cannot raise questions about human rights in Britain if that meant criticizing government policy".


Sunak's priorities

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has made immigration control one of his priorities, said he is ready for a legal battle over the text "in order for us to regain full control of our borders."

Sunak is expected to visit France on Friday to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, a few months after the signing of an agreement between London and Paris aimed at strengthening their cooperation in this field.

London in particular requires that migrants apply for asylum in the first safe country they reach.

Last year, more than 45,000 migrants arrived in the UK across the Channel on small boats, in addition to more than 3,000 since the beginning of the year, on the perilous journey.

And in November 2021, at least 27 migrants drowned as they crossed the canal.

These immigrants, and many of them seek asylum in the country, are accommodated in hotels at the expense of the state, which sometimes causes tension, especially since the asylum system is unable to process the requests flowing in.