[matthieu1221]

Just outrageous. I love the BBC, but I really can't defend this, especially with Richard Sharp not "stepping back" as chairman. The Attenborough news today doesn't help, either.

I wouldn't blame whoever steps in as presenter tomorrow, but I'd like to hope people might want to show some solidarity and not do it.

Well if no one else will do it, old Dickie Sharp himself can always step in, seeing as he’s so capable and talented… 

Joking aside, there was absolutely no need for it to come to this. Why even make a big deal about it? Lineker has been making political comments for years and the BBC never seemed bothered before. And as other journalists pointed out, Andrew Neil (whom I greatly respect as an interviewer) gave many, many opinions on politics whilst he was leading their political coverage! As do some other BBC journos, like Justin Webb. There seems to be a massive double standard at work.

One might argue that times are changing and that the BBC's independence doesn't seem as high on this government's agenda as under previous governments.

It might not be outright control of output, but the government is effectively pushing for self-censorship which in effect is the same thing. And not even on content, but on employees' (who have nothing to do with news coverage!) personal political opinions.

EDIT: today's Attenborough story is in effect self-censorship on content