Exclusive: The British government has defied a growing backlash over plans to appoint Tony Abbott as a trade adviser by formally approving the former Australian prime minister's new position
Abbott will be one of a number of new advisers on the board, which is being revamped as Britain negotiates a raft of new global trade deals following its departure from the European Union.
Actor Sir Ian McKellen led fresh calls on Friday for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reconsider appointing Abbott to the revamped trade board because of the former prime minister's previous statements on abortion, climate change, gay people and women.released an open letter calling on Britain's arts community to support and sign.
It also includes a Tory peer, Lord Hayward, who has become the second Conservative to voice disquiet about the appointment.The Age,
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