UK

Gary Lineker backs pro-Palestinian protesters over Armistice Day march

Martin Evans
Fri, 3 November 2023 

Gary Lineker - Danny Lawson/PA

Gary Lineker sparked a fresh political row on Friday as he backed pro-Palestinian protesters planning to march through London on Armistice Day.

The Match of the Day presenter posted his support online after Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, said the march risked causing offence to millions of “decent British people”.

Tens of thousands are expected to gather in central London on Saturday Nov 11 to take part in the now weekly pro-Palestinian rally.

On Friday, Rishi Sunak said the planned protest was “provocative and disrespectful” and would be an “affront to the British public and the values we stand for”.

Mrs Braverman said: “It is entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London. If it goes ahead, there is an obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence and damage, as well as giving offence to millions of decent British people.”

But responding to her comments, Lineker wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Marching and calling for a ceasefire and peace so that more innocent children don’t get killed is not really the definition of a hate march.”

‘This takes the biscuit’

Earlier this year Lineker, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, was forced to step back from his Match of the Day role after comparing Mrs Braverman’s comments on illegal migration to the language of 1930s Germany.

A huge row ensued, with a number of his BBC colleagues refusing to appear on air in support. He was later reinstated, and the corporation drew up new impartiality rules that said presenters were free to express opinions that are the subject of public and political debate.

But Lineker’s latest intervention has sparked anger in some quarters. Andrew Percy, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, said: “Gary Lineker isn’t known for his insight into Middle East politics, but this takes the biscuit in terms of ignorance.

“These marches have seen appalling examples of anti-Semitic placards, calls for jihad, the glorification of terrorism and the murder of 1,400 innocent Israelis. They have made British Jews feel more unsafe in this country than they have for generations.”

Sir Simon Schama, the historian, wrote on social media: “Why would you have a ceasefire with terrorists whose leaders have explicitly said they want to do October 7 again and again until Israel is annihilated?”

The row came as Israel rejected US calls for a temporary ceasefire in its Gaza offensive. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said there would be no humanitarian window until Hamas freed the hostages it continues to hold captive in Gaza.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested at King’s Cross Station on Friday night after Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, banned a sit-in protest for Gaza because of the risk to train services. He said he had agreed to a request from British Transport Police to prohibit the protest.