Politics

The country’s shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said Mr Abbott’s knowledge of the ruling Liberal party and Australian government dealings could present an issue in trade discussions.

“The Tories’ long-standing disdain for the UK’s global aid efforts is no secret, however, their recent attempts to dismantle the UK’s international development system has gone from rhetoric to reality."

This includes “the limited vocabulary, the simplicity of the messaging, the disdain for political correctness, the sometimes incendiary imagery, and the at best intermittent relationship with facts and the truth”

Eight logistics organisations, including the Road Haulage Association (RHA), have written to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove to highlight their concerns that the UK-EU supply chain “will be severely disrupted” next year.

"The UK’s exit from the EU requires food labels to be adapted as never before due to the unique situation of the country’s status change."

Just 40 minutes after it finished, the prime minister’s office issued a tweet warning people not to attend gatherings of more than 30 people.

"We have visibility of the current state of preparedness which as it stands has significant gaps."

Opposition MPs were highly critical of the defence, with shadow minister Peter Kyle saying ministers “don’t even pretend not to embrace bigots any more”.

“There is now yet another person who has applied to the adverts for ‘weirdos and misfits’ who has now had to resign because of their extreme views."