Boris Johnson defies opposition MPs as he appoints Tony Abbott as British trade envoy

Tony Abbott has been appointed as a British trade envoy as Boris Johnson defied calls from opposition MPs to block the move over claims that he is a “homophobe and misogynist.”

Mr Abbott, who served as prime minister to Australia between 2013 and 2015, will now serve as an advisor to the Board of Trade as the UK attempts to strike post-Brexit trade deals around the world.

On Friday night Tory MPs praised Mr Johnson for refusing to cave to demands from Sir Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon that Mr Abbott be rejected over his past remarks on homosexuality, women and climate change.

The Board will be headed by trade secretary Liz Truss, with Mr Abbott joining a group of advisers including the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Ireland secretaries, and four junior trade ministers.

Marcus Fysh, the Tory MP for Yeovil, will act as Ms Truss’s deputy.

Other advisers include former Tory MEP Dan Hannan, who missed out on a peerage earlier this year, Patricia Hewitt, the former Labour health secretary, Anne Boden, the founder of Starling Bank, City of London Mayor William Russell and Dr Linday Yueh, an economist at Oxford University.

In a sign of potential friction between some of the new appointees, Ms Boden on Friday night appeared to take a swipe at Mr Abbott over his past remarks on women. Writing on social media, Ms Boden said it was “important that we have challenging voices at such an important body” before sharing an article on a speech by Julia Gillard, a former Australian leader and political rival of Mr Abbott’s, who in 2012 accused him of misogyny. “I support diversity and so did this woman,” she added.

The announcement came just hours after Mr Johnson rallied behind Mr Abbott during a visit to Solihull, telling reporters that he had been elected by the “people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia".

Confronted with allegations levelled at Mr Abbott, who was born in London, he replied: “I don't agree with those sentiments at all, but then I don't agree with everyone who serves the Government in an unpaid capacity on hundreds of boards across the country.

“And I can't be expected to do so. What I would say about Tony Abbott is this is a guy who was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia.

"It's an amazing country, it's a freedom-loving country, it's a liberal country. There you go, I think that speaks for itself."

His comments were echoed by Mr Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, who said he would make an “outstanding trade envoy to the UK”.

In a statement, Ms Forster, who is gay, said: “It is nothing short of dishonesty for commentators and politicians who do not know Tony to label him a ‘homophobe and misogynist’ for the purpose of scoring cheap political points.

“As a woman who has always been part of his life and who came out to him as gay in my early 40s, I know incontrovertibly that Tony is neither of those things.

“In reality he is a man of great conviction and intellect: an unabashed conservative but with great compassion, respect for others, and an indelible sense of doing what is right.

“Tony would be an outstanding trade envoy for the UK, based on his track record as Prime Minister of delivering our three-long awaited and important trade deals with Japan, China and South Korea.”

Speaking to The Telegraph on Friday night, Tory MP Bob Seely, who sits on the Commons foreign affairs committee, said he was “delighted” that Mr Johnson had refused to bow to pressure.

“I think Tony Abbott has a very good view of the world, he will bring a great deal of experience,” he added.

Mr Abbott and the other members of the Board will now advise Ms Truss on post-Brexit trade policy, with the UK currently in trade deal negotiations with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

It will be tasked with engaging with UK industry and agriculture, helping to promote “Global Britain” and working with like-minded countries to expand free trade, and reform of the World Trade Organisation.

Ms Truss said: “The new Board of Trade will play an important role in helping Britain make the case for free and fair trade across the UK and around the world.

“At a time of increased protectionism and global insecurity, it’s vital that the UK is a strong voice for open markets and that we play a meaningful role in reshaping global trading rules alongside like-minded countries.

“The new Board will help us do that, bringing together a diverse group of people who share Britain’s belief in free enterprise, democracy, and high standards and rules-based trade.”