Labour likens Lineker row to ‘Putin’s Russia’ – but Tories hit back at ‘disgraceful’ comment

Conservatives ‘orchestrated cancel campaign’, says shadow culture secretary

Labour has compared Tory pressure on the BBC to suspend Gary Lineker to something akin to Vladimir Putin’s Russia – sparking a new row in the saga.

Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell accused Tory ministers and MPs of orchestrating a “cancel campaign” which saw the Match of the Day host pulled off air.

Despite the star’s reinstatement, the Labour MP said the saga had “exposed how susceptible the BBC leadership is to government pressure” and highlighted Tory hypocrisy on free speech.