Abbott’s Farage meeting splits Brits
TONY Abbott had a secret breakfast meeting with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage as he was being called a “misogynist and homophobe” on British television.
But the former Australian prime minister said via a spokesman he refused to respond to “personal abuse” as debate raged in the UK about his proposed appointment to a trade advisory board.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock was quizzed about Mr Abbott’s previous comments by Kay Burley on
Sky News, who asked if he was a “misogynist” and a “homophobe”.
Mr Hancock struggled during the car-crash live cross, responding: “He is also an expert in trade. We need to have the best experts in the world … and as the former prime minister of Australia obviously Mr Abbott has got a huge amount of experience.”
Mr Hancock then pledged his support for LGBT communities.
It is understood Mr Abbott and Mr Farage met on Thursday morning UK time, but a spokesman for Mr Farage declined to reveal what they discussed. However, hours later, he tweeted an earlier Zoom video the pair had done about “how Australia had stopped the boats”.
It came after Mr Abbott met with Home Secretary Priti Patel, who said it “was wonderful to catch up with the former Australian prime minister” in a tweet.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called on the British Government not to appoint Mr Abbott to the UK’s Board of Trade, which will be given a prominent role as the UK negotiates new trade deals after Brexit.
However, Mr Abbott has support in the Conservatives circles, with International Trade Secretary Liz Truss rejecting Labour’s criticism.