Tony Abbott Is Finding Out That The UK Hates Him And It’s Magnificent To Watch
"tfw UK media is holding Tony Abbott to account better than Aussie media has for 20+ years"
Tony Abbott has said some truly terrible things in his time, but until now roasting him for it has been purely an Australian pastime.
Actually, that’s not quite true — Russia did get involved for a while after he threatened to “shirtfront” Vladimir Putin, and Canada had a good laugh at his expense when he referred to them as “Canadia” on an official visit.
Now the British are cottoning on to the fact that maybe, just maybe, this man — who once said he felt “threatened” by homosexuality and suggested that men are “more adapted to exercise authority” than women — may not be the best option to represent them.
Tony is tipped to be the UK’s new trade envoy, but the decision has been slammed by politicians who have labelled him a misogynistic, homophobic, climate change denier.
Hmm, I wonder what could have given them that impression?
Now a clip of Sky News host Kay Burley has gone viral, after destroying a Tory politician who tried to defend Abbott.
Absolutely dead, watching through my fingers, my god pic.twitter.com/dkAyL9s5HD
— Alan White (@aljwhite) September 3, 2020
“I’m sure you don’t support some of his comments. He’s a homophobe, and a misogynist,” she stated.
“Well, he’s also an expert on trade,” Hancock said.
“So we can forgive his comments about women, and about letting the elderly die of COVID-19, and about his views on gay community — even though I believe his sister is gay — we can forgive all of that because he’s good at trade?” she asked incredulously.
He’s an expert on eating raw onions and being a dick, does that count?
— ⚡Mennis⚡ (@DennisMennis11) September 3, 2020
Whichever Australian traded Tony Abbott to Britain is the person Britain actually needs to help them with trade.
— jon “airships” kudelka (@jonkudelka) September 3, 2020
Tony Abbott waking up and realising he wasn't detested just because the politics of the day required it, but because he's fundamentally, universally awful.
— Rob Stott (@Rob_Stott) September 4, 2020
Not Everyone Hates Tony, Apparently
The Abbott pile-on kicked off last week when their Shadow International Trade Secretary, Emily Thornberry, went in with the roast of the century by calling him a “offensive, aggressive, leering, gaffe-prone misogynist”.
She’s since been backed up by other figures like Labour’s Ruth Cadbury (Abbott is “a misogynist and a homophobe … could the trade secretary not find an expert for the role who also demonstrates positive British values, and by the way, is not a climate change denier?”), MP Rachel Reeves (“I think your description of him as a misogynistic homophobe is an accurate one”) and Conservative MP Caroline Noakes (“He is a misogynist, he has very poor views on LGBTQ rights, I just don’t think this is a man who should be anywhere near our Board of Trade”).
Labour leader Keir Starmer and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have also both said that Abbott would not become trade envoy due to his past comments if the decision was up to them.
tfw UK media is holding Tony Abbott to account better than Aussie media has for 20+ years https://t.co/NYge054BNY
— irchar (@richrdbadlad) September 4, 2020
Despite the huge blowback Trade Secretary Liz Truss defended the appointment, calling the outcry “virtue signalling”.
Former Conservative politician Daniel Hannan took is a whole leap further by suggesting that Abbott isn’t homophobic or sexist, he’s just religious.
You are. You should take him. Please. Sincerely, a grateful nation.
— Mathew O'Shaughnessy (@ShaughnessyMat) September 4, 2020
So it’s OK to be misogynistic or homophobic if you use religion as an excuse?
— harliecharlies 🏳️🌈🇪🇺🕷️ (@harliecharlies) September 3, 2020
His sister Christine Forster has also released a statement defending him.
My statement following media coverage regarding @HonTonyAbbott from London overnight #auspol #brexit #politics #london #uk @SkyNews @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/OFemDX1V4E
— Christine Forster (@resourcefultype) September 4, 2020
Given Tony’s vocal support of Brexit it’s no surprise British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a fan of his — but it remains to be seen if the backlash will have any impact on whether his appointment to their Board of Trade becomes official.