Gary Lineker has taken aim at Suella Braverman’s comments about being “an English person”.
The Reform MP said she does not consider herself to be English because both her parents were born abroad, when speaking on BBC Question Time.
Lineker said Braverman’s words are “done to divide and rule”, suggesting her “whole plan” was to split people.
The former England footballer has previously hit out at Barverman when she was Home Secretary, comparing her language around immigration to that of Nazi Germany.
Commenting on the Reform MP’s recent comments, he said on The Rest of Football podcast: “I raise it because obviously we’ve had the thing with one of the Reforms, Suella Braverman, saying the same sort of stuff that, if you’ve got a different skin colour, you’re not English.
“And I just wanted to read [former Liverpool manager Jurgen] Klopp’s words out.
“He said: ‘There is absolutely no reason to pay attention to these people. You won’t get my thoughts on this. I have little time in everyday life for idiocy and even less on social media.
“The great crux of our lives is that everyone is allowed to express their opinion. It’s insane when something like that exists.
Gary Lineker has taken aim at Suella Braverman’s comments about being ‘an English person’
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“The world would learn a thing or two from a sports changing room. There, everyone is respected based on the facts and not discredited based on false opinions.'”
Lineker admitted he was “a bit nervous” about discussing politics, but feels it’s necessary if it impacts football.
He continued: “We focus sometimes on a racist chant or something at a football game or the occasional problems we have.
“But in the actual dressing rooms themselves, the harmony, whether, you know, you can be a Christian, a Catholic, a Muslim, any kind of ethnicity, you can be black, you can be brown, you can be white.
The Reform MP said: ‘I’m not an English person – I am of Asian origin. It doesn’t sound very controversial to me, but suddenly it has become debatable’
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“But it just all comes together, and it’s so harmonious. And, yet, politicians and people speaking out in that way, it just depresses me a little bit.
“I saw someone put a graphic up of all the players of various colours that have played and represented England over the years.
“I mean, come on. I know it’s done to divide and rule. That’s the whole plan. But it’s worth calling out occasionally. I really do think that.”
Braverman’s comments from last week sparked conversation and debate after the Reform MP said: “I’ve always considered myself British, of Asian ethnicity, and that’s never been something that I would question.
Lineker said Braverman’s comments are ‘done to divide and rule’
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“Of course I’m not English. I’m not an English person – I am of Asian origin. It doesn’t sound very controversial to me, but suddenly it has become debatable.
“My parents came as immigrants themselves to this country with nothing, very grateful to Britain for the hand of friendship that Britain extended to them.
“And I’ve always considered myself British, of Asian ethnicity, and that’s never been something that I would question.”
Braverman’s comments were labelled as “racist” on the Question Time panel by editor and columnist at the New Statesman Oli Dugmore.
The Reform MP responded: “What you’re saying is I’m racist against myself. You lower the tone of debate; you make it impossible for us to exchange ideas.”