Labour dumps ex-Aussie PM Tony Abbott along with all Tory appointed trade advisors

The ex-Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is no longer an advisor to the Board of Trade - and neither are any of the other Tory appointees to the group

Labour has dumped the former Prime Minister of Australia as a government trade advisor - along with all the other Tory-appointed advisors.

Ex-PM Tony Abbott, who was appointed by Liz Truss as an advisor to the Board of Trade, has previously said that "climate change is probably doing good.” He’s also been accused of making a series of offensive statements about women and abortion.

Other Tory appointees that have been sacked include arch Brexiteer Lord Daniel Hannan, and David Meller, a Tory donor whose company was awarded £160 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts during the pandemic after being referred to the 'VIP' lane by his friend Michael Gove.

Mr Abbott’s departure from the Board of Trade was uncovered by the climate investigations site DeSmog. Abbott was appointed to the position in September 2020 by Liz Truss, who was at the time serving as international trade secretary in Boris Johnson ’s Conservative government.

At the time, Keir Starmer said he had “real concerns” about Mr Abbott’s appointment.

Abbott served as Australia ’s prime minister from 2013 to 2015 before being ousted by his Liberal Party colleagues

His appointment to the Board of Trade was criticised by the actor Sir Ian McKellen and the Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T. Davies, as well as Caroline Nokes, who at the time was the Tory chair of the women and equalities select committee.

“I just don’t think this is a man who should be anywhere near our Board of Trade,” Nokes said.

It’s understood that all existing advisors to the Board of Trade have been stood down by the Labour government.

The Department of Business and Trade says “the future direction of the Board of Trade is currently being considered” and it’s understood that new advisors will be appointed in the near future.