Labour has dismissed several trade advisors appointed by the previous Conservative government, signalling a shift in direction for the Board of Trade. Among the high-profile figures let go is Tony Abbott, the former Australian prime minister and well-known climate change sceptic, who was appointed to the role by Liz Truss in 2020.
Abbott’s dismissal follows his continued public opposition to Net Zero policies, a stance that is at odds with the Labour government’s environmental commitments. Just recently, Abbott and Truss gave speeches in Sydney criticising climate-focused initiatives.
Alongside Abbott, leading Brexit advocate Daniel Hannan has also been removed from his advisory position. Hannan, a key supporter of Brexit and now a vocal backer of Robert Jenrick in the Conservative leadership race, has been a firm advocate for conservative policies throughout his career. His removal marks a notable shift as Labour reshapes its trade advisory team.
David Meller, a prominent Tory donor, was also dismissed. Meller, who gained attention for securing multi-million-pound PPE contracts during the pandemic, was a key supporter of Michael Gove and had financially backed several of his campaigns. His departure highlights Labour’s move to distance itself from key figures associated with the Conservative government’s business dealings.
A Labour spokesperson said that the future direction of the Board of Trade is under review and that new appointees will be announced soon. The move to remove these Tory-appointed figures suggests Labour is intent on aligning the board’s membership with its own policy priorities moving forward.
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