The Sun’s #Lineker attack speaks volumes about… #Corbyn

This is Gary Lineker. Gary is a former professional footballer with a long and distinguished professional record.

Both as a player who still holds the record for the most goals scored for England in World Cup Finals (10) and as a media presenter on, among others, BBC’s Match of the Day programme, BT Sport and BBC Radio 5, he is highly regarded and inspires considerable affection among the British public. He is not afraid to think outside the box, having famously appeared clad only in boxer shorts after making a bet that his old club, Leicester City, could not maintain form and win the Premier League, which he lost.

This week, Gary threatened the Establishment’s preferred anti-immigrant, racism-promoting narrative by tweeting a message about young refugees:

As a result of his humanity, the evil emperor of the Establishment, Rupert Murdoch, set his unprincipled attack-dogs at The Sun onto Gary in an astonishing attempt to destroy his reputation and deprive him of his job. The rag even stooped to mocking his appearance, picking on a feature which is actually a much-loved ‘signature’:

Gary was also attacked online by mobs of racists, attracted to the right-wing, dog-whistle reaction.

In spite of this, he remains massively popular and eminently employable – even more so now, although you will never find that admission on the front page (or any other page) of this rag or others like it. They don’t care that it’s nonsense, they have their orders and they’ll march to them.

This is Jeremy Corbyn:

Jeremy is a Labour member of Parliament with a long and distinguished professional record.

Both as an MP who has been consistently on the right side of history on every major issue over his 3 decades as an MP and as a human being who has been arrested for protesting against apartheid and has been unfailingly civil and humane even under the most extreme provocation.

He is not afraid to think outside the box, asking questions posed by members of the public in Parliament, for example refusing to conform to stereotypes of ‘successful’ politicians by engaging in grandstanding, dressing in expensive suits or riding in limousines, preferring public transport, comfortable clothes and actual questions and debate.

Since September 2015, Jeremy has threatened the Establishment’s preferred anti-immigrant, anti-disabled, racism- and inequality-promoting narrative by, well, by pretty much everything he says and does.

Jeremy represents an enormous threat to the status quo, so many, many, many front pages have been dedicated to removing him from his job by attempting to undermine his credibility. So-called ‘journalists’ have routinely mocked his appearance (picking on what is actually a much-loved feature) as well as stooping to the basest slurs. Here are just a few instances:

Jeremy is also smeared and attacked every day, both online by mobs of right-wingers and faux-left-wingers, determined to paint him as ‘unelectable’, in a prophecy they hope will be self-fulfilling.

In spite of this, he remains massively popular and eminently electable – even more so now and increasingly. Huge crowds will turn up to hear him speak – or even when he’s absent, just to show support.

Although you will never, every find that admission on the front page (or any other page) of The Sun or other rags. They don’t care that it’s nonsense, they have their orders and they’ll march to them.

Seeing the pattern yet?