The Guidance on the use of social media sets out the standards expected of all employees, but these vary according to the role of the individual within the Corporation.  The highest standards of impartiality are required primarily of those who work in journalism, but also apply to some others “who nevertheless have an additional responsibility to the BBC because of their profile on the BBC”.  The Guidance goes on to say “We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters”.  Mr Lineker is one of the BBC’s highest profile stars and, although he does not work exclusively for the BBC, is perhaps best known for presenting Match of the Day on BBC One.  In the ECU’s judgement Mr Lineker, though not involved in BBC journalism, therefore falls into the category of those for whom there is an “additional responsibility” as set out in the Guidance.

Mr Lineker has pointed out to the ECU that the tweet was prompted by an article on football, and we accept that he intended it as a comment on football (which is his primary interest and area of expertise) rather than on politics.  The ECU also acknowledged the suggestion, by the management of BBC Sport, that the framing of Mr Lineker’s comment as a question might have limited the extent to which readers of the tweet would have understood it as a statement of opinion on a politically controversial matter.  Whatever the mitigating effect of these factors, however, the ECU judged that they could not entirely erase the impression that one of its purposes was to highlight a perceived inconsistency in the Conservative Party’s approach, at a time when relations between the UK and Russia were the subject of significant public debate.  For this reason, we found the tweet was in breach of the relevant Guidance and did not meet the BBC’s editorial standards on impartiality.
Upheld