Boris Johnson formally appoints ex-Australian prime minister Tony Abbott as British trade envoy despite furious backlash over his 'misogyny and homophobia'

Yes, good old Tony. Not a nasty bone in his body, unlike some former PMs.

Good old Tony -
just the man we needed for the Covid crisis
but the Libbos dumped him.

Boris Johnson formally appoints ex-Australian prime minister Tony Abbott as British trade envoy despite furious backlash over his 'misogyny and homophobia'

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has been appointed to the UK Government's relaunched Board of Trade despite a furious backlash.  
The Department for International Trade announced this evening Mr Abbott has been made one of the board's advisers. 
He had been widely tipped for the role but Downing Street was under intense pressure not to go ahead with the move because of comments he has made in the past.
The confirmation of his appointment came after Boris Johnson had defended him and said he is a 'guy who was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia'. 
The Prime Minister said he did not agree with Mr Abbott's views on some issues 'but then I don't agree with everyone who serves the Government in an unpaid capacity on hundreds of boards across the country'. 
Sir Ian McKellen had earlier led calls from environmental and equality activists for the Government not to appoint Mr Abbott to the role.  
An open letter signed by Sir Ian, as well as Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T Davies and 24 other activists, urged ministers to reconsider the appointment and claimed Mr Abbott is 'not fit to be representing the UK'. 
Mr Abbott is a climate change sceptic who recently said he believes coronavirus lockdown rules should be scrapped, arguing that nature should be allowed to 'take its course'.
He has previously said he feels 'a bit threatened' by homosexuality and opposed same-sex marriage. He was accused of misogyny and sexism in Australia's parliament by the then prime minister, Julia Gillard, in 2012. 
Ms Gillard said this morning she stood by every word of what she said about Mr Abbott eight years ago but would not be drawn on whether he should be appointed to the trade envoy role, saying it was a 'decision for the UK Government'. 
However, allies of Mr Abbott leapt to his defence with his sister saying it was 'nothing short of dishonesty' to label her brother a 'homophobe and a misogynist' while former colleagues described him as a 'giant of Australian politics'. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8698265/Boris-Johnson-defends-Tony-Abbott-amid-trade-role-backlash.html