Boris Johnson backs Liam Fox to be the next World Trade Organisation chief after ‘Labour’s Peter Mandelson was told by the Government he would not be the UK’s candidate because he is not a Brexiteer’
- World Trade Organisation chief Roberto Azevedo is due to step down in August
- Liam Fox and Peter Mandelson had both been lobbying to be UK’s candidate
- Boris Johnson this afternoon announced he is backing Dr Fox for the position
- Lord Mandelson was ‘told his anti-Brexit views mean No10 would not back him’
Boris Johnson today backed Liam Fox to be the next head of the World Trade Organisation after it was claimed his main rival to be the UK’s candidate had his hopes dashed because he is not a Brexiteer.
The Government announced this afternoon it is formally nominating former Cabinet minister Dr Fox as its candidate in the race.
The decision came after it was alleged that Labour veteran Peter Mandelson’s own bid had been torpedoed by Downing Street on the grounds he was too pro-EU.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss is said to have told Lord Mandelson that the Government would be unable to support him as Britain’s candidate because he is not a Brexiteer.
Liam Fox, pictured in Westminster on June 2, has been formally nominated by the Government to be the next head of the World Trade Organisation
Dr Fox said he was ‘honoured’ to be nominated by Boris Johnson as he argued the WTO must be reformed if it is to remain relevant
The deadline for nominations to be the next director general of the free trade body was 5pm today.
Writing to the WTO to recommend Dr Fox, Mr Johnson said: ‘As the world seeks to recover from the shared challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of free and fair trade has never been more crucial.
‘Dr Fox is a passionate advocate of multilateralism, who brings detailed knowledge of the global trading system from his years as a UK Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State for International Trade.
‘He has first-hand experience of the political and technical challenges of negotiating trade agreements, and the reforms that are needed to ensure the global trading system truly delivers for all WTO members.’
The current boss of the WTO, Roberto Azevedo, is stepping down early from the role at the end of August.
Dr Fox will now have to win over countries around the world to secure the support he needs to win the contest.
The former international trade secretary said he was ‘honoured to have been nominated’ by Mr Johnson.
He tweeted: ‘I believe that if we want to keep the WTO relevant and vibrant our task is clear: Update. Strengthen and Reform. We must ensure that global trade works for everyone.’
It was unclear at the start of the day whether Downing Street would formally back Dr Fox amid concerns he may struggle to secure the backing he needs on the international stage.
The EU has elected not to nominate its own candidate for the job which means the bloc’s support could be key in the forthcoming contest.
Dr Fox’s status as a leading Brexiteer could make it difficult for him to secure Brussels’ support, Tory insiders believe.
Some believed Lord Mandelson, a former commissioner for trade at the EU, would have been better placed to win the contest.
Peter Mandelson was lobbying to be the UK’s candidate but he was apparently told by the Government that he would not have its support because he is not a Brexiteer
Lord Mandelson told the FT: ‘Nominating me would probably annoy some in Tory ranks who are more tribal Britain than global Britain but I hoped my experience and credentials would outweigh political considerations.
‘I am sure the WTO will find someone else qualified to lead the organisation.’
A former Tory minister said in Lord Mandelson the UK had ‘one candidate who might have been acceptable to Europe but was unacceptable to Downing Street’ and another in Mr Fox who may be acceptable to No10 but likely not to the EU.
Asked whether being a Brexiteer was now a requirement for senior government appointments, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: ‘No.’