[James2001]

Andrew Neil had strong links to The Spectator during much of his time at the BBC. Funnily enough that was never deemed a problem despite the publications deemed political leanings, but get the impression as well as the pro/anti-government bias when it comes to criticising the BBC I think there is a new media/old media jealousy issue from the press too. I suspect if Gary Lineker was writing these thoughts in a newspaper column even those that didn't agree would be crying about freedom of the press.

Yep, Andrew Neil never hid his political views, yet still presented BBC programmes which required him to have to treat politicians from all sides equally. Yet Gary Lineker, whose BBC role doesn't involve politics whatsoever, is expected to remain silent on his politics. It's all very hypocritical when one the BBC's main political presenters ran a very right wing magazine and few people took issue with it, but when a sports presenter offers political opinions, which in no way affects his job or what he does or says on screen, people are calling for him to go.