Jonathan Gullis challenges Gary Lineker to stand against him, bragging he'll win

11 January 2024 , 10:17

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Gary Lineker has been challenged to stand in the next general election

An outspoken Tory MP has challenged Gary Lineker to stand against him in the general election - and claimed he'll beat him.

Right-winger Jonathan Gullis hit out at the Match of the Day presenter, who has been heavily critical of the Government's immigration policies. And he urged the Three Lions legend to step forward and put himself up for election in Stoke-on-Trent North later this year.

Mr Gullis said: "I think Gary should be spending less time virtue signaling and more time talking about football, which he's actually very good at. It's just a shame that he seems to think that he somehow is a politician in the making. As I've said to him, if he's really desperate to get into politics, Stoke on Trent North, put yourself on the ballot paper and let the public decide."

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis claimed he would 'absolutely' win (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Asked if he thought he could beat Mr Lineker, the Tory MP said: "Absolutely." Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge, he said he's written to the BBC demanding an investigation into the football pundit's behaviour on social media. "The Director General seems to have just done a whitewash," he said. "So clearly Gary Lineker either runs the BBC, or the Director General is too scared to actually stand up to him."

There is a long history of bad blood between the duo. In December Mr Gullis accused Mr Lineker of breaching impartiality rules, accusing boss Tim Davie of "surrendering" to the presenter in the past.

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The former striker posted a mocking response, suggesting he couldn't read. He wrote: "Jonathan hasn't read the new guidelines... or, should I say, had someone read them to him?"

Last year Mr Lineker was suspended by the BBC after criticising then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman's migration plans, which he branded "beyond awful". He said the language used by the Government was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s".

Last month Defence Secretary Grant Shapps voiced his frustration at Mr Lineker, stating: "The BBC have told him he shouldn’t do this type of thing but still it continues. The point I would make to Mr Lineker is: what is right or moral about having people trafficked dangerously across the English Channel, losing their lives at sea, illegally entering the country?

"That is not a civilised, morally correct thing to do.”

Dave Burke