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Botham: Trade envoy for Australia, whatever next?

(38 Posts)
GillT57 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:10:30

It is rumoured that the main reason for this questionable appointment is so that Liz Truss can say that Botham Bats for Britain, oh and that he is a staunch Brexiteer.

Namsnanny Mon 23-Aug-21 13:23:37

You dont approve then GillT57?

GillT57 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:31:15

well, I don't see what his qualifications are for the job Namsnanny, he has never run a business as far as I am aware, and although a great cricketer, I am baffled as to what he will be doing, and why.

Namsnanny Mon 23-Aug-21 13:39:53

Do you think he has been shoehorned into the position, despite his lack of expertise?
Perhaps because of his connections?
I dont want to put words into your mouth, I'm just trying to understand.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:42:35

Another day in any normal country????.

Have you seen who the other trade envoys are?

It gets more bizarre by the day.

I notice that there are none for our nearest neighbours.

NfkDumpling Mon 23-Aug-21 13:44:25

I suppose he has been there at least, but I too am a bit mystified as to what exactly his qualifications are. But perhaps a Trade Envoy doesn't actually need to do anything except be a figurehead, presentable and if possible, a lord?

MayBee70 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:46:25

Didn’t he say the Australians were a load of cheats a couple of years ago?

jaylucy Mon 23-Aug-21 13:47:23

Sometimes those with no expertise can do the best job!
Australia sets great store by sports stars and many will remember him from the Ashes.
He could probably do a much better job than many politicians or bods with letters after their names could do.
His passion for his country and probably belief that some items produced can't be beaten. Let him have a go !

nanna8 Mon 23-Aug-21 13:48:09

Can’t imagine why he would be chosen except he is a pretty aggressive character so he will probably do a good deal for you but possibly not for us. They probably think we are all thick and will relate to a sportsperson.

Silverbridge Mon 23-Aug-21 14:01:29

The trade envoys engage with one or more emerging markets where substantial trade and investment opportunities have been identified by UK government.

www.gov.uk/government/groups/trade-envoys

Speculation, three months ago, that Australia's beef exports to the UK could rise tenfold as a result of the free-trade agreement? Let's chose someone whose nickname is Beefy as out trade envoy? Sounds about right.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/20/australia-beef-exports-uk-free-trade-deal-farmers

Whitewavemark2 Mon 23-Aug-21 14:08:10

I suppose they have all been chosen to replace the previous trade envoy, now disgraced.

Oldbat1 Mon 23-Aug-21 14:10:25

Wow whatever or whoever next?? How is he qualified? What does he know about trade? Scrapping the barrel. We are quite simply a joke.

NotSpaghetti Mon 23-Aug-21 14:27:49

Good article here if anyone's interested.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/voices/ian-botham-trade-envoy-australia-b1907148.html%3famp

He has wines named after him there. I actually thought he had a vineyard but not sure now.

Calendargirl Mon 23-Aug-21 16:20:57

NotSpaghetti

Good article here if anyone's interested.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/voices/ian-botham-trade-envoy-australia-b1907148.html%3famp

He has wines named after him there. I actually thought he had a vineyard but not sure now.

He does have something to do with wines, we were recently given a bottle with ‘Botham’ in the name.

Callistemon Mon 23-Aug-21 16:30:27

Speculation, three months ago, that Australia's beef exports to the UK could rise tenfold as a result of the free-trade agreement? Let's chose someone whose nickname is Beefy as out trade envoy? Sounds about right.
?

Lots of celebs are getting wines named after them; it's the in thing, perfumes are so passé now

Kyley Minogue, Drew Barrymore, Andrea Bocelli, Sam Neill to name a few
Actually, Graham Norton's Sauvignon Blanc was sent in our order as a substitute and it was rather good.

Jaxjacky Mon 23-Aug-21 17:06:51

He owns Beefy’s restaurant at the Ageas Bowl near us, nice little link up? ?

MerylStreep Mon 23-Aug-21 17:12:55

I doubt very much that he will be involved with the actual talks.
He will be there for the Meet &Greet aspect.
I don’t know what he’s like now but my daughter spent time with him in the Himalayas some years ago. She found him very sociable ?

MayBee70 Mon 23-Aug-21 17:50:01

Hoey has been appointed to deal with Ghana. This is just a bad dream isn’t it?

Lesley60 Mon 23-Aug-21 17:57:18

I don’t even understand why he’s a lord

varian Mon 23-Aug-21 17:59:52

Wasn't Prince Andrew supposed to be a trade envoy? I wonder what sort of trade he discussed with his good friend Epstein?

varian Mon 23-Aug-21 18:00:37

Lesley60

I don’t even understand why he’s a lord

He was a brexiter, that was enough.

MayBee70 Mon 23-Aug-21 19:20:06

varian

Wasn't Prince Andrew supposed to be a trade envoy? I wonder what sort of trade he discussed with his good friend Epstein?

Was he going to use Boris’s boat? When it’s eventually made.

NotSpaghetti Mon 23-Aug-21 21:24:42

This is something he tweeted about enjoying being in the House of Lords!

Sago Mon 23-Aug-21 22:28:13

Ian Botham was knighted for his services to sport and charity.
He has raised 12 million pounds for charity.

I believe he will be a good envoy.

MayBee70 Tue 24-Aug-21 00:13:01

NotSpaghetti

This is something he tweeted about enjoying being in the House of Lords!

Well, the way this government operates they probably read the last sentence and realised they had to sign him up for something he had absolutely no knowledge or interest in. Isn’t that the way things work these days?