The ex-Labour frontbencher who threatened to ‘smash’ a journalist’s face ‘with a bat’, and the MP who desires talks on slavery reparations: Meet Keir Starmer’s new commerce envoys!

Sir Keir Starmer today named a slew of parliamentarians as the UK’s new trade envoys – but questions were immediately asked about some of his appointments.

A cross-party group of 32 MPs and peers were announced to be joining the trade envoy programme.

They will cover 79 markets across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe and the Americas, and have been tasked with drumming up new investment into Britain.

Among those appointed by the Department for Business and Trade was Labour‘s Kate Osamor, MP for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, who is trade envoy to East Africa.

In 2020, Ms Osamor was ordered to apologise to the House of Commons after telling a journalist: ‘I should have come down here with a f****** bat and smashed your face open’.

The former frontbencher was found to have twice breached parliamentary rules in relation to events surrounding her drug-dealer son, who she employed in her office.

Ms Osamor was suspended by Labour last year in a row over her marking Holocaust Memorial Day by calling for Israeli action in Gaza to be remembered as ‘genocide’.

She had the party whip restored weeks later as she issued an apology for the ‘inappropriate’ remarks.

In 2020, Kate Osamor was ordered to apologise to the House of Commons after telling a journalist: ‘I should have come down here with a f****** bat and smashed your face open’. 

Bell Ribeiro-Addy is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, which aims to explore ‘how best to redress the legacies of African enslavement and colonialism’

Lord Ian Austin of Dudley quit Labour in 2019 over what he said was a ‘culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance’ in the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest is a former Labour deputy leader who joined the House of Lords in 2022 after being nominated for a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer

Other appointees to the team of new trade envoys include fellow Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who is trade envoy to Ghana.

She is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, which aims to explore ‘how best to redress the legacies of African enslavement and colonialism’.

Last year, Ms Ribeiro-Addy – the MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill – publicly rebuked Sir Keir over his reluctance to discuss reparations at a Commonwealth summit. 

In today’s announcement by the Department for Business and Trade, it was confirmed that Lord Ian Austin of Dudley was re-appointed as trade envoy to Israel.

The former MP quit Labour in 2019 over what he said was a ‘culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance’ in the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

At the general election later the same year, he urged ‘decent, traditional, patriotic Labour voters’ to back Boris Johnson’s Tories to stop Mr Corbyn becoming PM.

He was nominated for a life peerage by Mr Johnson in 2020.

Another ex-Labour MP, Lord Watson of Wyre Forest, is the UK’s trade envoy to South Korea.

He is a former Labour deputy leader who joined the House of Lords in 2022 after being nominated for a peerage by Sir Keir.

Turkey, Australia and Taiwan are among the markets the cross-party group of 32 parliamentarians have been assigned to target.

Each market has ‘significant potential’ for growing UK trade, the Department for Business and Trade said, and envoys have been picked based on ability, relevant skills and experience.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: ‘Trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth, the number one mission of this Government and a key part of our Plan for Change.

‘That’s why I’ve launched a new team of Trade Envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth.’

Downing Street said the envoys were focused on markets where they can have the most impact, rather than places like the US, where the UK already has sophisticated diplomatic trade and investment networks.

A new trade strategy is due in spring which will prioritise rebuilding ties with the EU and accessing other new markets.

The UK is resuming trade talks with partners including Switzerland and South Korea.