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# Johnson supports Abbott despite controversial LGBTQ+ views
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/johnson-supports-abbott-despite-controversial-lgbtq-views/
- Published: 2020-09-07T08:49:19.000Z
- Updated: 2020-09-07T08:49:19.000Z
- Description: Prime minister Boris Johnson has said Australian prime minister Tony Abbott will be appointed to unpaid trade job from the UK government.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Australia, Boris Johnson, Labour, LGBTQ, LGBTQ UK, Sir Ian McKellen, UK News, UK Politics

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tony-abbott-600-400.jpg)

Tony Abbott

Prime minister **Boris Johnson** has said decisions about who will be appointed on the new Board of Trade have been made and he former Australian prime minister **Tony Abbott** will be handed an unpaid trade job from the UK government. Abbott is known for his controversial views on the LGBTQ+ community, women, and climate change. Johnson told the BBC that he did ‘not agree’ with all of Abbott’s views but he ‘didn’t agree with everyone who serves the government’.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boris-johnson-600.jpg)

He continued Abbott ‘was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia’ and argued this ‘speaks for itself’. Abbott’s openly LGBTQ+ sister **Christine Foster** [previously](https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/boris-johnson-tony-abbott-lgbt-women?ref=scenemag.co.uk) referred to homophobia claims as ‘nothing short of dishonesty’ and insists that he has ‘respect for others’. However LGBTQ+ activists have urged Johnson to reconsider Abbott’s governmental role as he reportedly stated he felt ‘threatened by homosexuality’ during Australia’s same-sex marriage campaign.

Abbott also said in reference to two female politicians that their ‘sex appeal’ was their main quality. The **Labour** party has openly denounced Abbott, with leader Keir Starmer saying ‘I have real concerns about Tony Abbott and I don’t think he’s right for the job’. Openly gay actor **Sir Ian McKellen** is leading a [campaign](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ian-mckellen-leads-campaign-block-tony-abbott-a4540401.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk) to block ‘unfit’ Abbott from a UK government position, having sent an open letter to the governing body that has also been signed by figures including **Russell T Davis** and **Lord Cashman**.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ian-mckellen-750x-1.jpg)

Sir Ian McKellen is campaigning against Tony Abbott being appointed a position on the UK Board of Trade.