BBC leadership under renewed pressure after Gary Lineker U-turn

theguardian.com:

The BBC’s leadership was facing renewed pressure on Monday after the corporation U-turned to bring Gary Lineker back to Match of the Day, cancelling the presenter’s suspension without requiring him to make any significant concessions.

Three days after Lineker was taken off air for criticising the language used by ministers when discussing the government’s asylum policy, Tim Davie, the director general of the BBC, announced an independent review of the corporation’s social media guidelines.

Davie, who apologised to BBC audiences for the turmoil and disruption after fellow presenters, pundits and commentators refused to work, in solidarity with Lineker, said in an interview that Lineker had promised to comply with the guidelines while the review was carried out.

In turn, Lineker praised Davie and welcomed the review, but pointedly added: “However difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away …

“We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.”

Craig Oliver, the former BBC news executive and communications chief under David Cameron, described the reinstatement of Lineker as a “capitulation” by the corporation.

“I think what’s happened here is Gary Lineker 1; BBC credibility 0,” he said. “The reality is the BBC today has announced it will have a review of its social media guidelines. In fact,