Gary Lineker is known for speaking – or shall we say tweeting – his mind about different issues and he’s now given a brutal response to an idea proposed by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell for the UK national anthem to be played every night on the BBC.
Until 1997 ‘God Save The Queen’BBC One could be heard every day playing as it carried the channel through the night. Although this is no longer possible, the station was still available on Radio 4 every day until the introduction of BBC World Service.
Romford, the MP for the House of Commons, argued that this would create a new era. “great sense of unity and pride in our nation”You may also ask: “So in this year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, will the minister take steps to encourage public broadcasters to play the national anthem and ensure the BBC restores it at the end of the day’s programming before it switches to News 24?”
The question received positive comments from Tory MPs.
Nadine Dorries Culture secretary seemed to support the idea, and can be heard saying “fantastic”As a response to your suggestion.
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However, pundit and ex-footballer Lineker – who is one of the BBC’s biggest presenters – wasn’t exactly as enthused at the idea and made his feelings clear on the matter.
Lineker joked that Rosindell tweeted him an image of Rosindell asking about the anthem returning. “Yeah, let’s be less British and more North Korean.”
This move could be compared with something that would occur under Kim Jong Un’s North Korean dictatorship.
A spokesperson for BBC said The Huffington Post: “The national anthem is played every night on Radio 4 after the late shipping forecast and we continue to play it at appropriate times on television, such as during the Queen’s Christmas broadcast.
“We no longer play the national anthem on a daily basis on BBC One because it doesn’t close down in the evening.”
Chris Philp, culture minister, said the same thing to MPs. “We fully support the signing of the national anthem, Her Majesty the Queen and other expressions of patriotism – including the flying of the Union Jack.
“The more that we hear the national anthem sung, frankly, the better. Organisations like schools are free to promote it and the more we can do in this area, the better it’ll be.”
Guess we will have to wait and see if Rosindell’s request will happen… but what we do know for certain is Lineker is not a fan.