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Picture copyright
EPA
Tony Abbott is visiting the UK
Ministers have defended former Australian PM Tony Abbott amid reviews that he’s being lined up for a job in post-Brexit commerce talks.
Commerce Minister Greg Palms instructed MPs he welcomed Mr Abbott’s want to “assist this nation out”.
Opposition and a few Tory MPs say he’s unfit to characterize the UK resulting from his views on local weather change and previous “misogynist” and “homophobic” feedback.
Mr Abbott says he has had talks a few function however nothing is official but.
Requested within the Commons about Mr Abbott’s potential place as a coverage adviser to Worldwide Commerce Secretary Liz Truss, Mr Palms stated: “No appointments have been confirmed, however personally I welcome the truth that a former prime minister of Australia is keen to assist this nation out.”
Earlier, Well being Secretary Matt Hancock was requested on Sky Information about considerations surrounding Mr Abbott’s angle in direction of ladies and homosexuality.
Mr Hancock stated he didn’t imagine Mr Abbott is homophobic or misogynistic, and when pushed, he added: “He’s additionally an knowledgeable on commerce.”
Reviews that Mr Abbott, who was Australia’s prime minister between 2013 and 2015 is being lined as much as work alongside Liz Truss have been met with anger from UK opposition events and a few Conservative MPs.
‘Unhealthy thought’
Final week, Labour’s shadow Worldwide Commerce Secretary Emily Thornberry described Mr Abbott as a “Trump-worshipping misogynist,” including that it was “staggering” that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would suppose he was “the suitable individual to characterize our nation abroad”.
On Wednesday Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Girls and Equalities choose committee, stated appointing Mr Abbott to a Brexit commerce talks function could be “such a foul thought”.
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Talking to Jo Coburn on the BBC’s Politics Dwell, Ms Nokes stated: “I’m not certain I can provide you with phrases for a way terrible I feel it’s.”
She described the previous Australian PM as a “misogynist,” who has “very poor views on LGBTQ rights”.
She added: “I simply do not suppose this can be a man who needs to be wherever close to our board of commerce.”
Mr Abbott who led Australia’s Liberal Get together between 2009 and 2015, was challenged about a few of his previous feedback at a choose committee listening to on Tuesday.
Labour MP Claudia Webbe quoted remarks attributed to him in 2012, that males had been by physiology or temperament, extra tailored than ladies to train authority and challenge instructions, and requested if, within the gentle of that opinion, he would have problem accepting the authority of Liz Truss.
Mr Abbott stated he “wasn’t certain” he had ever used these phrases, and that it “would not sound like something I’ve stated”.
The previous Australian prime minister is alleged to have struck up a friendship with Boris Johnson when he was overseas secretary.