‘Deeply concerning’: British government picks Alexander Downer to review UK’s border force

Former Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer recently urged the UK to adopt Australia’s controversial policy of turning back boats carrying asylum seekers. Home secretary Priti Patel has picked Downer to review the work of Border Force. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The British government has handpicked former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer to review the country’s border force, months after he urged the UK to adopt Australia’s controversial boat turn-back policy.

British home secretary Priti Patel announced Downer, a key proponent of Australia’s Pacific Solution, would review the UK Border Force and examine the agency’s “structure, powers, funding and priorities”.