Australia’s former top diplomat in the United Kingdom, Alexander Downer, has intervened in the British election contest, declaring the Morrison government would need to “substantially reduce” intelligence sharing with London in the event Jeremy Corbyn wins on 12 December.

In an excoriating assessment of the labour leader at the National Press Club in Canberra, Downer contended that a Corbyn victory would imperil substantial Australian investments in Britain, and would trigger a reassessment of the “very intimate” security relationship between Canberra and London.

Downer is a former leader of the Liberal party in Australia, and was foreign affairs minister in the Howard government for more than a decade. He was appointed after his retirement from politics as high commissioner in London by the Liberal government in Canberra.

Downer on Tuesday rated Boris Johnson’s prospect of victory at about 70%, but he warned if the Conservatives failed to win outright “then expect Jeremy Corbyn to be the prime minister”. Downer said the result mattered to Australia because the UK was the second-largest offshore destination for Australian investment. Read more

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