Gary Lineker will “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media, the broadcaster said. The presenter 62, has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany. A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. “The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media. When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. READ MORE: Gary Lineker to step back from BBC Match of the Day presenting role amid Twitter controversy “We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies. ” It is not yet clear who will stand in for him during Saturday’s edition of Match Of The Day. The row was sparked by his response on Twitter to a Home Office video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the Government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats. The ex-England striker wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s. ” Scroll down for the latest updates and reaction. Read today's top stories here READ NEXT: 'Doctors said I was too young to get cancer - I was diagnosed with two types in three months' BBC Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has to learn to walk again after cancer chemotherapy How to check your pension - including how much you can get and when 14 of Salford's favourite pubs - and which are still around Man suffering from Crohn's left 'embarrassed' after Tesco staff refused to let him use toilet 19:39 Damon Wilkinson Former City defender Micah Richards backs MOTD boycott Match Of The Day pundit and former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has backed Ian Wright and Alan Shearer’s decision to boycott the BBC show on Saturday. “I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that @IanWright0 & @alanshearer have,” he tweeted. Share 19:02 Ellie Kemp Lib Dems calls for 'properly independent' BBC The Liberal Democrats said the Gary Lineker row demonstrates the need for a “properly independent” BBC. The party’s culture spokesperson Jamie Stone said: “Today is a reminder that we need a properly independent BBC that upholds our best British values, is strong enough to stand up to political pressure and defend freedom of speech. “The Conservatives have consistently tried to attack and undermine that; Liberal Democrats will always resist their attacks which are not in the best interests of the country. ” Share 19:01 Ellie Kemp Jason Manford defends Lineker, saying he's done 'nothing wrong. ' Comedian Jason Manford has called Gary Lineker a 'national treasure' in a tweet amid news the Match Of The Day presenter is stepping back from his role. Quote-tweeting a post from Labour MP Lucy Powell, which criticised the BBC's response to Lineker's comments as an 'overeaction,' Manford wrote: "what a right royal f**k up this is". In response, one Twitter user said: "Plenty of other presenters out there. " Manford replied: "Nope. Gary Lineker is MOTD and has done nothing wrong. A national treasure hosting a national treasure. No one can present the show now, it’ll have to just be a clips show. But then will the editors, producers, runners etc follow suit? (Altho much harder when you’re actual staff!" Share 18:53 Ellie Kemp Piers Morgan shares Winston Churchill quote amid Lineker debate Journalist Piers Morgan, who has spoken out in support of Gary Lineker since he has stepped back from Match Of The Day, tweeted a quote from Winston Churchill. Posting an image of the former Prime Minister next to a quote, the text read: "Some people's ideas of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage". Share 18:45 Ellie Kemp Alan Shearer will not be appearing on Match Of The Day on Saturday In a tweet, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer said: “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night. ” Share 18:40 Ellie Kemp It is 'appropriate' for Lineker to step back says former Tory leader Former Tory leader Lord Hague said it was “appropriate” for Gary Lineker to step back from hosting Match Of The Day. “He broke the guidelines I think of the BBC with comments that are highly politicised, which BBC presenters are not meant to do. So that’s against the rules and we’ve got to do something about that, otherwise every presenter can do so on every programme,” he told Times Radio. I think it is appropriate for him to step back. ” Lord Hague added “I don’t know if you can separate” Lineker’s personal social media and role as a BBC presenter. Share 18:29 Ellie Kemp Nicola Sturgeon brands BBC's decision 'indefensible' Nicola Sturgeon called the BBC’s decision to stand Gary Lineker down from hosting duties on Match Of The Day “indefensible”. The Scottish First Minister tweeted: As a strong supporter of public service broadcasting, I want to be able to defend the BBC. But the decision to take @GaryLineker off air is indefensible. It is undermining free speech in the face of political pressure – & it does always seem to be rightwing pressure it caves to. Share 18:28 Ellie Kemp Nadine Dorries says Lineker stepping back shows BBC is 'serious about impartiality' Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries has said she welcomes the decision for Gary Lineker to step back from Match Of The Day, saying it shows the BBC is “serious about impartiality”. “News that @GaryLineker has been stood down for investigation is welcome and shows @BBC are serious about impartiality,” the TalkTV host tweeted. Gary is entitled to his views- free speech is paramount. Lots of non Public Service Broadcasters can accommodate him and his views and he would be better paid. ” Share 18:24 Ellie Kemp Former Labour leader praises Lineker for 'standing up for refugees' Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised Gary Lineker and Ian Wright on Twitter. The Islington North MP wrote: “Well done @GaryLineker for standing up for refugees. “Well done @IanWright0 for showing the meaning of solidarity. Now, let’s mobilise against a politics of cruelty, and defeat this inhumane, illegal & immoral legislation. ” Share 18:20 Ellie Kemp BBC should be 'ashamed' by decision to ask Lineker to step back Henry Winter, the chief football writer for The Times who has regularly appeared on the BBC’s Radio 5 Live, said the broadcaster should be “ashamed” by its decision to ask Gary Lineker to step back from hosting Match Of The Day. “Disappointing that coverage of (Match Of The Day) dictated by politicians,” he tweeted. “Not what BBC should be about. BBC should be ashamed. Should be independent of No 10. Ian Wright replaced by Ian Duncan-Smith? “Many good people working for BBC football who deserve better from their craven bosses. ” Share 18:19 Ellie Kemp Former Liberal Democrat leader to boycott MOTD Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said he would boycott Match Of The Day amid the Gary Lineker row. Sharing a headline saying the presenter will be “stepping back” from the show, Mr Farron tweeted: “And I will be stepping back from watching the programme until the @BBC grows a backbone. Still, I’m sure we can count on the Free Speech Union to stand up against this hysterical act of cancellation…” Share 18:15 Ellie Kemp Former BBC exec says there is 'a lot of confusion' around staffing rules for freelancers Former BBC executive Richard Sambrook told the PA news agency there is “a lot of confusion” around whether freelance broadcasters such as Gary Lineker who do not work in news should be subject to the same rules as permanent staff. Mr Sambrook, who was director of news at the BBC and director of BBC Global News and the BBC World Service, was asked about the Match Of The Day presenter comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany and him subsequently “stepping back” from the BBC show. He replied: I think the language he used was unnecessarily provocative but the wider question here is whether a sports presenter in his private life has to be bound by BBC policies. Traditionally, the BBC would always want that to be the case but I think in the current day and age when we live in a world full of social media, when journalism broadcasters have the ability to go and work for other people or do their own podcasts and all the rest of it, that’s a bit of an unrealistic expectation. So I think unless the BBC recalibrates its relationship with freelancers, then this is just going to happen again and again. Mr Sambrook also said: “I think there’s quite a lot of confusion about the extent to which the impartiality guidelines extend outside of news and extend to freelancers rather than staff, and until that’s cleared up we’re going to go on having these kinds of (problems). ” Share 18:13 Ellie Kemp Lineker was told to step back by BBC, says Dan Walker Gary Lineker was told by the BBC to step back from presenting Match Of The Day, according to Channel 5 News presenter Dan Walker, who said he has been in contact with the former footballer. Share 18:12 Ellie Kemp Krishnan Guru-Murthy says it's 'hard to see Lineker coming back now' Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy has said it is “hard to see Lineker coming back now” following the news that Gary Lineker will not present Match Of The Day tomorrow. The journalist tweeted: “Presumably BBC will be asked to explain which of its guidelines were broken and why other regular presenters, contributors, comedians, actors who tweet political views are not in breach. Hard to see Lineker coming back now. ” Share 18:11 Ellie Kemp Ian Wright will not feature on MOTD this weekend In a tweet stating he would not be featuring on Match Of The Day on Saturday, Ian Wright posted: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. “Solidarity. ” Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling replied to Ian Wright’s message of “solidarity” with Gary Lineker, tweeting: “Well played Wrighty. ” Retired England goalkeeper Ben Foster also wrote a message of support under Ian Wright’s tweet, replying: “Heck yes Wrighty. ” Share 18:11 Ellie Kemp Alastair Campbell brands BBC's decision 'act of political cowardice' Alastair Campbell has branded the BBC’s decision over Gary Lineker’s remarks on Twitter “an act of political cowardice” that threatens democracy. The former journalist and Labour spin doctor described the move to announce Lineker was stepping back from Match Of The Day as “pathetic” and “craven” during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live. Asked about his stance on the matter, he said: “I’ll be even more outspoken now because this is, I’m afraid, an act of complete political cowardice. If it was wrong in principle then they should have sacked him the other day. ” Mr Campbell contrasted Lineker’s position with those of BBC chairman Richard Sharp and Sir Robbie Gibb, a BBC board member and former communications director for Theresa May. He said Sir Robbie had “allowed the myth to develop that the BBC was somehow left wing” before going on to work on the Brexit campaign and then returning to the corporation to sit on its board, but that “nobody has doorstepped” him. Mr Campbell added: It is absolutely pathetic and craven and it’s happened because… a few Tory MPs and a couple of ministers and the right-wing rags have got themselves worked up into a lather, and as a result of that Gary Lineker has to go. He described the move as “Trumpian” and “utterly obscene” and accused the BBC of “pander(ing) to a right-wing agenda”, before adding: “What has happened today is about more than a football commentator. It is dangerous to who and what we are as a democracy. ” Share 18:09 Ellie Kemp Dan Walker isn't sure he'd 'fancy' sitting in for Lineker this weekend Following the news that Gary Lineker will not present Match Of The Day on Saturday, former BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter Dan Walker tweeted: “I used to sit in for @GaryLineker on MOTD… not sure I’d fancy it this weekend. What a mess!” Share 18:08 Ellie Kemp If Lineker had tweeted in support of immigration law 'this would not have been the end result' says presenter Former Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas tweeted: “I wonder what the end result would have been had @GaryLineker Tweeted his whole hearted support for the Government’s immigration policy & had used the same inflammatory words like ‘invasion’ that were deployed by @SuellaBraverman? “This (100 emoji) would not have been the end result. ” Share 18:08 Simon Coyle Labour condemns 'cowardly decision' Labour has condemned the BBC’s “cowardly decision” to stand Gary Lineker down from hosting duties on Match Of The Day. A party source told the Press Association: “The BBC’s cowardly decision to take Gary Lineker off air is an assault on free speech in the face of political pressure. “Tory politicians lobbying to get people sacked for disagreeing with Government policies should be laughed at, not pandered to. The BBC should rethink their decision. ” Share 18:07 Ellie Kemp Gary Neville tweets in support of Lineker Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville, who commentates for Sky Sports, tweeted in response to a news story regarding Lineker: “When you take on the Tories and the system! Awful people who we need gone. Off for a (wine glass emoji). ” Share 18:06 Simon Coyle Former Conservative minister says decision 'inevitable' The BBC’s decision to stand Gary Lineker down from hosting duties on Match Of The Day was “inevitable”, a Conservative former culture secretary has said. Sir John Whittingdale told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “I think it was inevitable. “The problem is that Gary Lineker has made it clear that he wants to go on tweeting his views. “And he’s of course entitled to hold his views, but the problem is that he is also a very highly – indeed the highest paid – person working for the BBC and is closely associated with the BBC. “And I’m afraid those two things are not compatible. ” He added that Lineker is “not entitled” to express his views while being closely associated with the corporation, and that many BBC journalists “have made clear that they don’t like the fact that Gary Lineker has been regularly flouting the rules in this way”. Share 18:05 Ellie Kemp Richard Osmond slams decision for Lineker to step back as 'pathetic' Presenter Richard Osman told his followers on Twitter that Gary Lineker stepping back from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media “is pathetic for so many reasons”. Share 18:05 Simon Coyle Emily