Share and Follow
After finding his diplomatic footing in New York, chalking up a series of political wins, including a Trump meeting, Palestinian statehood, climate policy, and leading a groundswell of support for a kids’ social media ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing the wrath of the Opposition over his movements in the United Kingdom.
Albanese’s decision to travel from London to Liverpool to address the Labour Party conference is at the centre of the brouhaha.
On Sunday, Albanese took to the stage as a special guest to deliver a speech, pumping up the beleaguered UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and promoting the values of progressive political parties.
Albanese said it was critical for Australia and the UK to work closely together at a time of global uncertainty.
“In government, I value the opportunities we have to work together and get results, to take action together on issues that matter to our two nations and to the wider world,” he said.
“From standing together with the ‘coalition of the willing’ to help secure peace on Ukraine’s terms … and working together to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and build something better by recognising the state of Palestine,” Albanese said.
Earlier, Opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, Michaelia Cash, demanded to know the cost to taxpayers of the visit.
“Mr Albanese wants to turn this into a little trip where he basically now goes to ‘functions’ that are of a domestic political nature, and are directly related to the Labor Party, well he needs to be upfront with that and the cost to the Australian people,” she said.
“You are there as the head of our country, not as the head of the Australian Labor Party, so why don’t you try behaving like the head of our country as opposed to turning this into a domestic political exercise?”
Cash pointed to criticism Albanese previously levelled at former prime minister Scott Morrison when he appeared at a Trump rally at an Ohio paper mill in 2019.
“He criticised Scott Morrison for doing a similar thing with the Republicans. Well guess what, you don’t get to say one thing when you’re in Opposition and then just blow off the questions when you’re in government,” she said.
Albanese addressed the concerns about taking part in a party-political event in an interview with SBS News ahead of his speech to the UK Labour Party conference.
“We have a relationship with the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom has a free trade agreement with Australia, that’s really important, it’s about Australian jobs and the economic benefits that we receive,” he said.
“The AUKUS arrangements mean that we need to engage with the UK government. And accepting the invitation of the Prime Minister Starmer, to meet not just with him, but with all of his ministers, including the defence minister, the home affairs minister, and others, is important, it’s part of my job.”
Albanese met with the UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch in London, but steered clear of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who is leading the polls to become the UK’s next prime minister.
If Farage and Reform UK solidify the polling surge in the UK, on an anti-migration platform, the value of prioritising this Liverpool Labour event will be subject to deeper scrutiny.
Albanese tweeted in 2021 that the Trump rally appearance put Morrison’s own “political interests above bipartisanship”.
Words the Opposition wants to witness haunt him now.
