MISOGYNIST? PM DOESN’T GIVE A XXXX
Ex-Oz PM Abbott gets UK trade role
CONTROVERSIAL former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott will be appointed as a UK trade adviser, Boris Johnson has confirmed – despite allegations of misogyny and homophobia.
Mr Abbott will be handed the role with the relaunched Board of Trade, whose president, Trade Secretary Liz Truss – also Minister for Women – has defended him against critics.
He was also backed by the Prime Minister, who said yesterday: “This is a guy who was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia. I think that speaks for itself.”
The appointment was a snub to campaigners who warned ministers Mr Abbott was “not fit” to represent the UK due to his comments about women, the gay community and coronavirus. LGBT campaigners, including actor Sir Ian McKellen and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, sent an open letter opposing the move. It said Mr Abbott had described abortion as “the easy way out” and had suggested men may be “by physiology or temperament more adapted to exercise authority”.
It also said he had described himself as “threatened by homosexuality”, and had campaigned against the referendum in Australia to allow same-sex marriage.
Speaking in London last week, Mr Abbott, 62, again sparked fury suggesting that instead of protecting the elderly from coronavirus they should be allowed to die peacefully.
Also advising the Board will be Vote Leave founder Daniel Hannan, who during the campaign for the 2016 Brexit referendum accused critics of “scaremongering” for suggesting EU nationals’ status in the UK might change after Brexit. It did.
Conservative MP Marcus Fysh will serve as deputy president.