Gary Lineker says bigger salary could 'entice the great minds' into politics

Gary Lineker has suggested that paying politicians more money could “tempt the really brilliant minds in the country into the roles”.

The basic annual salary of an MP in the House of Commons was £84,144 as of April last year.

But the star – who has been the face of Match Of The Day since 1999 - said that he thought bigger salaries might encourage the brightest minds to pursue a political career, reported The Times.

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Lineker opened up during an interview with Times Radio, in which he was quizzed about whether politicians should be paid more for what they do.

“I’ve always thought it’s such an important job… if we could tempt the really brilliant minds in the country into the roles, rather than perhaps people that are already self-made, or their family’s fortune,” he said.

“I don’t think we really entice the great minds in the country and probably a bigger salary would.”

The former England striker, 62, has been known for sharing his own political views.

But Lineker revealed that although he comments on things and shares his views, he is not interested in a career in politics himself.

He said a career in the political sphere wasn't something that had ever been on his agenda.

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The star – who has four sons from his marriage to his first wife Michelle Cockayne - said that if he hadn’t made a career out of football he may have been a journalist instead.

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