‘A misogynist and a sexist’: FM blasts proposed Abbott trade role
● Former PM of Australia, sacked by his own party, defended by Tories
First Minister Ni cola St urgeon has blasted the proposed appointment of former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott to the British Board of Trade as UK ministers defended the plan amid mounting pressure to drop him over allegations of homophobia and misogyny.
The embattled former Australian Liberal Party leader has faced widespread criti - cism for past actions on access to abortion and LGBTQ rights, and caused outrage in recent days after arguing that some older people should not be shielded from Covid-19.
Speaking on Sky News yesterday morning, Ms Sturgeon said Mr Abbott was “not the kind of person who should be a trade envoy for the UK.” She said comments Mr Abbott made about elderly people with coronavirus were “disgraceful”.
“The death toll in care homes is to o high and that anyone would take that view is deeply offensive and wrong,” Ms Sturgeon said.
She called Mr Abbott“a misogynist, as exist and climate change denier” and said “he shouldn’t be any kind of envoy”.
“Trade is not separate from the values and the reputation that a country wants to project internationally,” she said.
“If I had anything to do with that decision, he wouldn’t be a trade envoy.”
Downing Street has insisted no decision has been made, but Mr Abbott is in talks to become joint president of the relaunched Board of Trade.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, wearing an NHS badge with the LGBTQ rainbow flag, was questioned yesterday over the suitability of Mr Abbott, who led his nation from 2013 until he was ousted by his own party in 2015, then lost his seat as an MP.
He said he did not believe Mr Abbott was homophobic or misogynistic and, when pressed, added: “He’s also an expert in trade.”
Mr Hancock said that “I bow to nobody in my support for everybody to love who they love”.
“But we need to have the best experts in the world working in their field and the former prime minister of Australia has a huge amount of experience,” he said.
Opposition MPS were highly critical of the defence, with shadow minister Peter Kyle saying ministers “don’t even pretend not to embrace bigots any more”.
Labour leader SirKeir Starmer said: “I have real concerns about Tony Abbott and I don’t think he’s the right person for the job. If I was prime minister I wouldn’t appoint him.”
LabourMPChrisBry ant tweeted :“His sexism and homophobia & his views on trade trumping lab our and human rights standards should rule him out.
“The very idea that he should be given a job, a role or a voice representing Britain should be anathema.”