[thomalex]

No it doesn't, David, but I would argue that there is a difference between the "views some personally disagree with" of, say, Alan Sugar or Andrew Neil, and the barmy, completely divorced-from-reality stuff that Neil Oliver comes out with on a weekly basis. I agree that the idea of there being a plot to deliberately put Coast on in order to embarrass the BBC is somewhat far-fetched - but if they are 'cancelling' Lineker for his (IMO, fairly innocuous) comments, it does seem to be a double standard.

Exactly. One of the arguments put forward against Lineker is because of his association with the BBC (aka fronting a show on it) and thus if he tweeted his political opinion it could possibly damage the BBC's reputation as an impartial broadcaster. How the same case does not apply for Neil Oliver is beyond me. Yes, yes, he's made controversial comments after he filmed Coast, but his face is still on there, being associated with the BBC as it is currently still being used on air.

Nothing to do with the opinions expressed, it just really gives the perception once again of double standards.

To be honest I didn’t know Coast was still on. 

Then again Lineker is the BBC’s highest paid presenter and presents major sporting occasions along with things like SPOTY. He is in a different strata to the likes of Oliver and you can expect to be held to a higher standard as a result.