Jeremy Vine caller says Ian Botham will ‘open doors’
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A Jeremy Vine caller has hit out at panellist Matthew Stadlen for opposing Sir Ian Botham’s appointment as a trade envoy, saying he will “open doors”. The slamming came after the former cricketer was named an envoy to Australia to help promote trade links after Brexit. Critics of Lord Botham have suggested the appointment was the result of his support for Boris Johnson’s campaign for Brexit.
Vine caller Carl from Peterborough said on the Jeremy Vine on Five programme: “I find the comments about Sir Ian Botham getting the job because he backed Brexit a thoroughly cheap remark.
“Sir Ian Botham is a well-known cricketer, he is well known in this country.
“He is well known in Australia- he will be able to open doors and speak to people.
He went on: “He will have people with him, and he’s a lot better than some faceless suit from Westminster the Australians don’t know.”
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The host chipped in: “Absolutely brilliant.”
“Now we’ve come out of the EU, we need to explore these markets.”
He added: “Sir Ian is right in a way, because if you look at the geographical status of Australia, all the main cities around the coast. T
“To the best of my knowledge, the only city or town of any substance in the middle is Alice Springs.”
Ian Botham has been appointed UK government trade envoy to Australia as part of the Government’s strategy to boost Brexit Britain’s trade ties with the Commonwealth nation.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said Lord Botham would “bat for British business Down Under”.
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Ms Truss added: “Our trade envoys play a key role in delivering our ambitious global trade agenda, and I am delighted the Prime Minister has appointed 10 trade envoys who will boost opportunities for British businesses in some of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
“By boosting exports, promoting inward investment and creating high-value, high-paying jobs, our trade envoys will help us build back better from Covid-19, ensuring every part of the UK benefits from our trade strategy.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added: “He has business experience in that country, he knows the people well and we’re confident that he can help British businesses sell more products to our Australian counterparts.”
Alongside Lord Botham’s appointment as trade envoy to Australia, former Labour MP and now non-affiliated peer Baroness Hoey has been appointed to Ghana, Stephen Timms MP (Labour) has been appointed to Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, David Mundell MP (Conservative) has been appointed to New Zealand, and Mark Eastwood MP (Conservative) has been appointed to Pakistan.
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