Tories 'winced' over Tony Abbott's 'fascistic' refugees speech

Nick Miller Europe Correspondent

London: Tony Abbott's controversy-sparking speech in honour of Margaret Thatcher made Conservative cabinet ministers "wince", a well-connected Tory blogger says.  

Guido Fawkes, the online persona of blogger and journalist Paul Staines, wrote that a top Tory described the speech afterwards as "fascistic".

Tony Abbott gave The Margaret Thatcher lecture in London. Photo: Julian Andrews

In the speech on Tuesday night, the former Australian prime minister recommended a hardline approach to turning migrants away from Europe's borders, and an increase in military action on the ground in Syria.

Fawkes said the speech was "punchy".

"Nigel Farage has praised him as 'heroic'. One top Tory alternatively described it as 'fascistic'," Fawkes wrote.

 "Tory cabinet ministers winced as [Mr Abbott] warned Europe must use force to turn boats around and establish camps for migrants", he said.

The audience at the black-tie event included Iain Duncan Smith (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions), John Whittingdale (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills), Priti Patel (Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions), Liz Truss (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Chris Grayling (leader of the House of Commons).

Former British defence secretary Liam Fox was also there – as was comedian Jim Davidson, who Fawkes said "was uncharacteristically restrained during his speech, a rare occasion where he was not the most controversial speaker".

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