Jonathan Gullis challenges Gary Lineker to face in opposition to him, bragging he’ll win

An outspoken Tory MP has challenged Gary Lineker to face in opposition to him within the common election – and claimed he’ll beat him.

Right-winger Jonathan Gullis hit out on the Match of the Day presenter, who has been closely crucial of the Government’s immigration insurance policies. And he urged the Three Lions legend to step ahead and put himself up for election in Stoke-on-Trent North later this yr.

Mr Gullis stated: “I think Gary should be spending less time virtue signaling and more time talking about football, which he’s actually very good at. It’s just a shame that he seems to think that he somehow is a politician in the making. As I’ve said to him, if he’s really desperate to get into politics, Stoke on Trent North, put yourself on the ballot paper and let the public decide.”

Asked if he thought he may beat Mr Lineker, the Tory MP stated: “Absolutely.” Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge, he stated he is written to the BBC demanding an investigation into the soccer pundit’s behaviour on social media. “The Director General seems to have just done a whitewash,” he stated. “So clearly Gary Lineker both runs the BBC, or the Director General is just too scared to truly stand as much as him.”

There is an extended historical past of unhealthy blood between the duo. In December Mr Gullis accused Mr Lineker of breaching impartiality guidelines, accusing boss Tim Davie of “surrendering” to the presenter previously.

The former striker posted a mocking response, suggesting he could not learn. He wrote: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines… or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”

Last yr Mr Lineker was suspended by the BBC after criticising then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s migration plans, which he branded “beyond awful”. He stated the language utilized by the Government was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.

Last month Defence Secretary Grant Shapps voiced his frustration at Mr Lineker, stating: “The BBC have told him he shouldn’t do this type of thing but still it continues. The point I would make to Mr Lineker is: what is right or moral about having people trafficked dangerously across the English Channel, losing their lives at sea, illegally entering the country?

“That just isn’t a civilised, morally appropriate factor to do.”