Tony Abbott: Ministers defend ex-Australian PM over Brexit trade role

Tony Abbott is visiting the UK

Ministers have defended former Australian PM Tony Abbott amid reports that he is being lined up for a role in post-Brexit trade talks.

Trade Minister Greg Hands told MPs he welcomed Mr Abbott's desire to "help this country out".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he had "real concerns" and "wouldn't appoint" Mr Abbott if he were PM.

Mr Abbott says he has had talks with UK ministers about a role but it has yet to be officially confirmed.

Opposition and some Tory MPs say he is unfit to represent the UK due to his views on climate change and past "misogynist" and "homophobic" comments.

A group of equality activists - including actor Sir Ian McKellen and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies - have also written an open letter against Mr Abbott's appointment, saying: "This man is not fit to be representing the UK as our trade envoy."

Mr Abbott's position would be as a member of the UK board of trade, a panel of experts that is being put together to advise International Trade Secretary Liz Truss.

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Asked about the potential appointment in the Commons, Mr Hands said: "No appointments have been confirmed, but personally I welcome the fact that a former prime minister of Australia is willing to help this country out."

'Nauseating'

On Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked on Sky News about concerns surrounding Mr Abbott's attitude towards women and homosexuality.

Mr Hancock said he did not believe Mr Abbott is homophobic or misogynistic, and when pushed, he added: "He is also an expert on trade."

Reports that Mr Abbott, who was Australia's prime minister between 2013 and 2015 is being lined up to work alongside Liz Truss have been met with anger from UK opposition parties and some Conservative MPs.

Labour MPs Chris Bryant and Wes Streeting, who are both gay, accused Mr Hancock of hypocrisy after the health secretary tweeted about the "fantastic" new LGBT-inclusive relationships and sex education programme introduced in schools.

Mr Bryant said: "So why on earth would you countenance Tony Abbott as a trade envoy?"

Mr Streeting tweeted: "Matt, we know you're a social liberal with a decent voting record on LGBT equality. That's why your defence of Tony Abbott was even more nauseating."

Sir Keir said: "I have real concerns about Tony Abbott, I don't think he's the right person for the job. If I was prime minister, I wouldn't appoint him."

'Britain deserves better'

Labour MP Marie Rimmer added: "Surely there's trade experts who aren't homophobic and misogynists? Britain deserves better than Tony Abbott representing us on the world stage."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Abbott's coronavirus views were "deeply offensive and wrong" and he was not fit to be a trade envoy.

"But Tony Abbott, before these comments, is a misogynist, he's a sexist, he's a climate change denier," she told Sky News.

"Trade, in many respects, should reflect our values - there should be ethics attached to any country's trading profile."

Liz Truss is in charge of negotiating trade deals with other countries

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss was later asked in the Commons about the possible appointment.

Following criticism from Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, Ms Truss said: "I think it's absolute hypocrisy to hear this type of argument from the Labour Party.

"This is a party that has never elected a female leader despite having the opportunity time and time again.

"The reality is they'd rather virtue signal and indulge in tokenism rather than take real action to improve the lives of women."

'Environmental protection'

Labour's Christian Matheson said: "The appointment of the sexist and homophobic Tony Abbott is also the appointment of a climate change denier.

"So does this indicate the government is moving away from any commitment in trade deals to maintain environmental protection? And if not, why have you put him in the job?"

Ms Truss replied: "The reality is that those on the left of politics are always intolerant of anyone who doesn't agree with them but are prepared to defend anything from their own friends."

Conservative MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee Tom Tugendhat was asked about the criticism of Mr Abbott.

Speaking on BBC News, he said: "I would like to see people from the United Kingdom representing the regions and nations.

"Businessmen, politicians and industry leaders from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the different regions from Cornwall and Kent and wherever else in between, making the case that isn't simply trade based on a few narrow industries."

Mr Abbott who led Australia's Liberal Party between 2009 and 2015, was challenged about some of his past comments at a hearing of Mr Tugendhat's select committee on Tuesday.

Labour MP Claudia Webbe quoted remarks attributed to him in 2012, that men were by physiology or temperament, more adapted than women to exercise authority and issue commands, and asked if, in the light of that opinion, he would have difficulty accepting the authority of Liz Truss.

Mr Abbott said he "wasn't sure" he had ever used those words, and that it "doesn't sound like anything I've said".

The former Australian prime minister is said to have struck up a friendship with Boris Johnson when he was foreign secretary.