Rishi Sunak is delivering his promises. The Windsor framework is seen as a good solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Last week’s Illegal Immigration Bill tackles the small boats problem. Yet the majority of the debate has been about Gary Lineker, and whether or not he is allowed to voice an opinion.

To be clear, I’m completely happy with him saying what he likes. A year or two back, Emily Maitliss had a go at the government using an editorial comment on BBC Newsnight, and that was not ok – it breached every aspect of BBC neutrality. But Lineker tweeting on a private platform is fine. He should pick his words, though. Likening the small boats policy to a pre-war German culture is probably unwise.

Britain has a good record when it comes to refugees. We have given asylum to Afghans fleeing the Taliban; to Hong Kong BNO citizens seeking sanctuary from a tough regime in our former colony; and we are still one of the biggest donors for Syrian refugees.

The Illegal Immigration Bill uses draconian measures to disrupt the market of those gangs that exploit people, in many cases, simply seeking a better life than the one they leave. The gangs charge around $10,000 and they present techniques to game the legal system on arrival. Legal aid lawyers provide endless ways of applying and appealing, whilst parts of our tourist industry are being given over to accommodation. The system is overwhelmed. To do nothing would be to end up with tented accommodation and that would be unacceptable.

The Lineker row, though, has opened up a wider debate on free speech. He takes a view that many disagree with. But to me, the BBC taking him off air is no better than the university who no-platformed perhaps the best feminist of her generation, Germaine Greer. Greer’s sin was to be “unsound” on transgender issues – something J K Rowling of Harry Potter fame has similarly suffered from. The old expression “I disagree with you but will fight for your right to voice your opinion” has been replaced with “I will only allow your freedom of speech if I agree.” This is not right. The Sewell report on Race and Ethnic Disparities was similarly shouted down in 2021.

Healthy debate needs people to feel confident they can voice an opinion without being silenced. Gary Lineker should say what he thinks.