The BBC has backed Lord Alan Sugar’s right to speak “what he wants” in the midst of its impartiality controversy with Gary Lineker.
Last week, the Match of the Day presenter was briefly removed from the show due to a disagreement with his supervisors at the national broadcaster over statements he made on social media criticising the Tory government and its Illegal Migration Bill.
But, it has now focused attention on what other BBC media personalities and broadcasters are allowed to say.
In an interview on Thursday, the national broadcaster’s Head of Editorial Policy David Jordan said that a ‘agreement’ had been made with Lord Sugar of The Apprentice.
‘Alan Sugar has been very, very restrained recently you would have noticed because he is presenting The Apprentice, Jordan said when appearing on The Media Show.
‘He voluntarily constrains himself on social media when he’s very identified with the BBC presenting The Apprentice and just before that or just after that,’ continued.
‘The rest of the time he’s free to say, as a business person, what he wants to say.’
When asked if Lord Sugar’s public support for the Conservatives in 2019 caused a problem with the BBC, Jordan responded the statements occurred after they revised their policy.
‘It would have been an issue if it had come up during The Apprentice run,’ he added.
Several others, however, criticised the double standard.
‘That really makes no sense. Whether his series is running or not, he is always identified with The Apprentice,’ one person posted on Twitter.
Another added: ‘You can’t just switch affiliation on and off willy nilly. How ridiculous. He’s paid a lot of money to front a programme and promotes him and his businesses. You can’t then say his career as a businessman is separate when it’s not on air.’
Lord Sugar has already openly encouraged people to vote Conservative.
Earlier in December 2019, he claimed people should back the Tories in the general election because they would get Brexit ‘over with’ and also warned a Labour government would lead to ‘economic disaster’.
The businessman, Media celebrity, and politician has been a member of the House of Lords since 2009, but he has previously stated his political opinions openly.
He constantly advised the people not to vote for Sadiq Khan in the 2016 London mayoral election, backed Theresa May in the 2017 United Kingdom general election, and released an ode critical of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn the following year.
He has been the host of The Apprentice since 2005.
When Lineker was forced to stand down from hosting his show last week, it prompted other broadcasters to boycott in solidarity.
However, it was announced on Monday that he will be returning to his hosting responsibilities this weekend.
The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One.
Source My Celebrity Life.