Gary Lineker slams Tory MP's 'outrageous' comments that he called northern voters 'racist bigots'

Gary Lineker has hit out at accusations that he called northern voters 'racist bigots', calling the comments 'outrageous and dangerously provocative'.

The Match of the Day host took to Twitter to criticise the remark made by Tory MP Jonathan Gullis during an interview with Channel 4 News. Defending Rishi Sunak's recent legislation on small boats, Mr Gullis said he wasn't concerned about upsetting the 'Twitterati'.

It comes after Lineker faced controversy after criticising the government's language around the policy, comparing it to that used in Nazi Germany. Earlier this week, BBC director-general Tim Davie announced that Lineker would be returning to present Match Of The Day on Saturday.

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Speaking about the policy on small boats, Mr Gullis said: “(It’s) certainly tough and upset all the right people in the right places as far as I’m concerned.

“Let’s be clear, when I talk about upsetting people I’m talking about the Twitterati, the Wokerati of North Islington, those champagne socialists who pontificate all day. Those are the people I don’t care upsetting, because those are the people who want to call people up here racist bigots, Nazis, like Gary Lineker has done.”

Responding to the clip, another Twitter user wrote: “I don’t think Gary Lineker has actually directly called Red Wall voters ‘Nazis’ Mr Gullis.”

Lineker also replied, writing: “No he hasn’t and never would. This is outrageous and dangerously provocative.”

Tim Davie apologised for the recent impartiality row, sparked by one of the presenter’s previous tweets, and announced a review of social media guidelines at the broadcaster.

Lineker “will abide by the editorial guidelines”