A Conservative MP has called for more focus to be put on the upcoming migration bill vote rather than coverage of Gary Lineker's dispute with the BBC.

Matt Vickers, Conservative MP for Stockton South, has called for greater focus to be placed on the the Illegal Migration Bill after being interviewed by Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkRadio.

He said while Gary Lineker's dispute with the BBC has become the nation's focus, it should be people's views on the Bill.

He criticised the BBC and said the broadcaster needs to set boundaries with personalities, while also saying it has to "get its act together."

Read more: ICBs urged to fund hospice care in North East as MPs come together

Speaking on the situation, he said: "This issue is all about the BBC, it's all about impartiality of the BBC. I'm usually the guy who is kicking off about 'cancel culture,' but actually in real terms, this is about the BBC.

"It's about taxpayers out there who are forced to cough up cash to pay the £1.35 million that he gets paid.

"The BBC is an institution and it exists because of that impartiality, and without that it is nothing, and it has no right to take money from taxpayers. I think that's where this all stems from.

"One of the biggest problems we've got this weekend is we've spent however many days talking about the presenter of a football programme when actually we should be having a national debate about what is going on on our borders.

"The BBC has to get its act together, it has to hold people to account, it has to not be scared of characters and big personalities, and it has to play by the rules because it's taking a hell of a lot of money from the taxpayer and it has a big responsibility to them."

He said the channel cannot be used to "promote" or "attack" political parties, and would have no right to taxpayer funding if it did so.

This comes after he, alongside fellow Conservative party deputy chairman Lee Anderson signed a letter calling for an apology from Mr Lineker and a BBC investigation into his comments and future role.

The England legend was taken off the air for a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany.

The letter was also signed by ex-ministers Brendan Clarke-Smith and Jonathan Gullis; Tory grandees Sir Desmond Swayne, Sir Edward Leigh and Bob Blackman; and vice-chairman of the Tory Common Sense Group Tom Hunt.

Since then, Mr Lineker has been reinstated as the host of Match of the Day, while the BBC has announced an independent review of social media guidelines at the corporation, particularly for freelancers.

In a statement on social media, the former Tottenham and Leicester City striker said: "After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming

"I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.

"A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.

"We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you."

Read more: County Durham and Darlington secondary schools rated by Ofsted

Mr Vickers also decried Twitter as a "vile platform" and said he believes it is responsible for many of the "ills" of the world and has contributed to a rising use of the word Nazi.

He said it was horrendous to see the comparisons made to the Holocaust online, and said people in the public eye should be more responsible with the use of this terminology.

"It's completely wrong and completely disgusting actually for people who lost their lives, for people whose family members lost their lives in the Holocaust, who witnessed the horrors of that thing, to then see comparisons on a daily basis published on Twitter and social media platforms.

"Do I think we can legislate and change that? No. Do I think that people in the public eye have to be more responsible with the use of that terminology? Yes I do."

The second reading of the Illegal Immigration Bill will be taking place today, with a vote to be held in the Commons today.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here

Meanwhile, Mr Vickers said the reason for this Bill is the country cannot house migrants in hotels, and cannot deal with refugees who are coming into the system as the queues are too long.

He also criticised Labour leader Kier Starmer and said he has opposed opportunities to "toughen up" the UK's asylum and immigration systems.