BBC likely to look into Lineker tweets about Tory MPs, says candidate for chair

Presenter’s comments appear to breach corporation’s social media guidelines, Samir Shah tells hearing

The BBC is likely to be “looking into” Gary Lineker’s criticism of Conservative politicians, which appear to breach the BBC’s social media guidelines, the government’s proposed new chair of the corporation has said.

In his first public comments since being announced as the culture secretary’s “preferred candidate” for the key position in the BBC, Samir Shah said he did not think it was “helpful” that the Match of the Day presenter had signed a letter calling on political leaders to come up with a “fair new plan for refugees” and scrap its Rwanda scheme, but did not see it as a breach of the rules.