What's the difference?

[finnbear270]

Packham & Lineker?

 

[Tazz]

What they have in common is an interest in large migrations

 

[User00053]

One has a bit missing, other just limited

 

[willie_gunn]

Precious little - both seem to feel that the BBC’s commitment to impartiality is, in the words of Shakespeare, “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”

 

[NoIDeer]

The BBC censure Rineker...

 

[Number8]

The BBC does seem to have spectacularly kicked its own arse today.

 

[Jgray]

 

[potshotpat]

One is unlikeable and I hope the other becomes unemployable.

 

[Pete1774]

Losing your job for expressing your views while not at work and not about your work is an Orwellian nightmare. Lineker is employed as a sports commentator, not a political correspondent and did not, as Packham regularly does, use his TV appearances as a platform for his views. Regardless of whether you agree with him or not would you think it right if you were dismissed from your job for something you said in the pub that your boss didn't like even if, like Lineker, it was on a subject that was not relevant to your job? This may be the norm in China and Russia but do we want this to become the norm here?

 

[enfieldspares]

Losing your job for expressing your views while not at work and not about your work is an Orwellian nightmare. Lineker is employed as a sports commentator, not a political correspondent and did not, as Packham regularly does, use his TV appearances as a platform for his views. Regardless of whether you agree with him or not would you think it right if you were dismissed from your job for something you said in the pub that your boss didn't like even if, like Lineker, it was on a subject that was not relevant to your job? This may be the norm in China and Russia but do we want this to become the norm here?

This. +1.

 

[Dunwaters]

One is unlikeable and I hope the other becomes unemployable.

Why?
He’s paid to comment on a subject for which he’s eminently qualified.
He has a right to express his private opinions on public forums, just like you have, and did.

 

[potshotpat]

Why?
He’s paid to comment on a subject for which he’s eminently qualified.
He has a right to express his private opinions on public forums, just like you have, and did.

Correct

 

[addjunkie]

Why?
He’s paid to comment on a subject for which he’s eminently qualified.
He has a right to express his private opinions on public forums, just like you have, and did.

Probably yes, but because he is well known due to his role with the beeb his impartiality is expected as a part of his employability. The world was a much simpler place before antisocial media!

 

[mel b3]

Losing your job for expressing your views while not at work and not about your work is an Orwellian nightmare. Lineker is employed as a sports commentator, not a political correspondent and did not, as Packham regularly does, use his TV appearances as a platform for his views. Regardless of whether you agree with him or not would you think it right if you were dismissed from your job for something you said in the pub that your boss didn't like even if, like Lineker, it was on a subject that was not relevant to your job? This may be the norm in China and Russia but do we want this to become the norm here?

A guy that I used to work with , was sacked for voicing his opinions on race , on Facebook. His opinions were very much opposite to those of Gary Lineker.

 

[Malxwal]

I'm thinking if I was getting paid the vast sum that he was, and being well aware of how media works, I'd have kept my opinions to myself. A relatively spectacular own goal really.

 

[User00053]

Possible has aspirations in other areas bar talking about football and selling crisps found him amusing and harmless in his role until now

 

[User00040]

This may be the norm in China and Russia but do we want this to become the norm here?

Before Ukraine, London and MP's from both sides of the bench were kow-towing to Russian Oligarchs.

British Universities bend over backwards for Chinese students who can't speak English (makes you wonder how they got in...?)

Wait till they invade Taiwan...

Britain has no balls, but at least Lineker knows how to handle them

 

[vmaxphil]

Maybe it's an excuse for the bbc to cut the wage bill?

 

[Longstrider]

The difference in circumstances is that Lineker is a BBC employee, and Packham is a contractor apparently. Only those with knowledge of the wording of their respective contracts (duly checked by legal teams and agents before being signed I have no doubt) would know how this could affect the Corporations' dealings with each.

What I do know from what little I have seen of Lineker on the news these last few days is that he seems to be the sort of guy that would have found himself being thumped quite a lot had he attended my old school.

 

[NoIDeer]

The difference in circumstances is that Lineker is a BBC employee

I think you will find he is a freelance contractor, same as Packman.