Tony Abbott: Recent calls to dam Brexit commerce position

The UK authorities is dealing with contemporary calls to drop plans to present former Australian PM Tony Abbott to a task in post-Brexit commerce talks.

Critics have pointed to a number of of his previous feedback, accusing him of homophobia, sexism and local weather change denial.

Ministers have defended Mr Abbott, saying he has experience on commerce.

Commerce Minister Greg Palms instructed MPs he welcomed Mr Abbott’s need to “assist this nation out”.

However Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he had “actual considerations” and “would not appoint” Mr Abbott if he have been prime minister.

Mr Abbott, who was prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015, says he has had talks with UK ministers a few position however it has but to be formally confirmed. Downing St has additionally mentioned “no choice” has been made.

‘Nice conviction’

A bunch of equality activists – together with actor Sir Ian McKellen and Physician Who author Russell T Davies – have written an open letter towards Mr Abbott’s appointment.

The letter says: “It is a man who described abortion as ‘the straightforward method out’ and recommended that males could also be ‘by physiology or temperament extra tailored to train authority or to situation command’.”

It mentioned Mr Abbott “vigorously campaigned” towards Australia’s profitable marriage equality referendum.

“For all these causes and extra moreover, this man will not be match to be representing the UK as our commerce envoy,” the letter added.

However Mr Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, has defended him towards claims of misogyny and homophobia.

“As a girl who has at all times been a part of his life and who got here out to him as homosexual in my early 40s, I do know incontrovertibly that Tony is neither of these issues,” she wrote on Twitter.

“In actuality he’s a person of nice conviction and mind; an unabashed conservative however with nice compassion, respect for others, and an indelible sense of doing what is correct.”

She added that he could be an “excellent commerce envoy for the UK” primarily based on his report of delivering commerce offers with Japan, China and South Korea.

Mr Abbott’s place could be as a member of the UK board of commerce, a panel of specialists that’s being put collectively to advise Worldwide Commerce Secretary Liz Truss.

On Thursday, Well being Secretary Matt Hancock was requested on Sky Information about considerations surrounding Mr Abbott’s angle in the direction of girls and homosexuality.

Mr Hancock mentioned he didn’t consider Mr Abbott is homophobic or misogynistic, and when pushed, he added: “He’s additionally an skilled on commerce.”

‘Nauseating’

The Labour Get together has additionally written to the federal government urging it to not appoint Mr Abbott, saying to take action could be “utterly unacceptable”, and to “look as an alternative for an skilled with views on girls and equalities that higher mirror our British values.”

Labour MPs Chris Bryant and Wes Streeting accused Mr Hancock of hypocrisy after the well being secretary tweeted in regards to the “improbable” new LGBT-inclusive relationships and intercourse schooling programme launched in faculties.

Mr Bryant mentioned: “So why on earth would you countenance Tony Abbott as a commerce envoy?” whereas Mr Streeting tweeted: “Matt, we all know you are a social liberal with a good voting report on LGBT equality. That is why your defence of Tony Abbott was much more nauseating.”

Within the Commons on Thursday, Worldwide Commerce Secretary Liz Truss was requested in regards to the doable appointment.

Following criticism from Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, Ms Truss mentioned: “I feel it is absolute hypocrisy to listen to this kind of argument from the Labour Get together.

“It is a social gathering that has by no means elected a feminine chief regardless of having the chance time and time once more.

“The truth is that they’d reasonably advantage sign and take pleasure in tokenism reasonably than take actual motion to enhance the lives of ladies.”