Homophobic Misogynist Tony Abbott 'Also An Expert On Trade', Says UK Minister

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has tried to brush off questions over homophobic and misogynistic comments made by Tony Abbott, who is being tipped as a post-Brexit trade leader.

When confronted by UK Sky News presenter Kay Burley over Abbott’s record, Hancock insisted the former Australian PM is “also an expert in trade”.

Abbott, who was ousted by the Liberal Party just two years into his tenure as PM, is rumoured to have been hired by British leader Boris Johnson to assist with new trade agreements – despite a history of publicly discussing deeply controversial views.

Burley reeled off a list of Abbott’s previous comments, including assertions that he feels “threatened” by homosexuality and women are “physiologically unsuited to leadership”.

But Hancock responded: “As far as I understand it the proposal is that Mr Abbott supports the UK on trade policy, which is an area in which he’s got a huge amount of expertise.

“I bow to nobody in my support for everybody to love who they love, whoever that is, as you know and as we’ve talked about a lot, but we need to have the best experts in the world working in their field and as the former prime minister of Australia obviously Mr Abbott’s got a huge amount of experience.”

Doubling down on her question, Burley responded: “Even if he’s a homophobic misogynist?”, an assertion that Hancock claimed he “didn’t think is true.”

Burley again reminded Hancock of Abbott’s past record, to which the health secretary said: “Well, er, he’s also an expert in trade.”

“So one plays off against the other, is that really what you’re saying health...

Continue reading on HuffPost