When the cat's away the mice will play is a phrase that comes to mind. Why? BBC chairman has gone AWOL during the biggest existential crisis at the corporation for years, maybe decades. Both Richard Sharp and director general Tim Davie refused to be interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire on tonight's #Newsnight. Some BBC staffers are feeling emboldened. They're starting to lose their fear of their Tory bosses. That's a good thing. #SackTimDavie #SackRichardSharp

Has anyone else seen Craig Oliver's interview on Sky News. He insists the score is Gary Lineker 8. Tim Davies credibility nil. And this is absolutely right. If the revised social media guidelines for him as a non news freelancer gags him, he's gonna quit the BBC. And he could sue them for lack of impartiality. Bectu/NUJ would back him. And he'd win. #SackTimDavie

Gary Lineker has not been gagged, despite Tim Davie pretending he's agreed to that. He's continuing to defend human rights for vulnerable refugees. And there's nothing Davie can do to stop him. #SackTimDavie

It is because of widely shared tweets like this that I have not deactivated my Twitter account. I want to see the same level of support for such messages on Mastodon. And we can only get that by patiently explaining to those still imprisoned in Elon Musk's hellhole that there's an alternative. Musk will have to kick me off rather than asking me to walk the plank. #IStandWithGaryLineker #SackTimDavie

I watched Andrew Neil's program yesterday. Brian Cox was impressive but all but maybe one other person on that show has Tory values. Ed Balls defended the BBC, attacking its left wing as well as right wing critics. But we're winning. We've got the Tory bastards on the ropes. Time for the knockout punch. #SackTimDavie

Does it matter that Gary Lineker will restrain himself on social media until Tim Davie's 'independent' review ends? I don't think so. Firstly, if Lord Sugar et all doesn't abide by existing rules the BBC will face legal action. Secondly, Gary is one person. Millions will speak on social media even if he can't for a prolonged period. We're winning. #SackTimDavie

@[email protected] If Gary Lineker abides by the BBC's deranged rules or freelancers but Lord Sugar and others don't, this will lead to him complaining and he'd win. He could even sue the BBC for lack of impartiality for non news freelancers. And he'd win in the courts too. The rest of us will keep demanding that Davie is sacked. #SackTimDavie

@[email protected] The reality is this review may try to distinguish between Gary Lineker's right to free speech and Lord Sugar's. But if that happened he'd quit the BBC and Davie would be humiliated all over again. Bectu/NUJ would pile on pressure and they'd win. Davie is living on borrowed time. #SackTimDavie

@[email protected] I understand the point you are making. However, although Gary Lineker will restrain his language for a period, the rest of us won't. The NUJ/Bectu will defend free speech on social media for ALL BBC freelancers, including Gary Lineker, so Tim Davie's 'independent' review merely kicks the can down the road. We'll pick it up and run with it. #SackTimDavie

Tim Davie is a disgrace. He insists he did nothing wrong and he was right to take Gary Lineker off the air. His colleagues disagree. So does the NUJ and Bectu. So do all non news freelancers. All of them have the right to free speech on social media. So we need to #SackTimDavie. And we need to sack many more Tory propagandists at the BBC on the airwaves, not just on social media.