Commonwealth rift in Caribbean as re-election of Lady Scotland challenged

Patricia Scotland, pictured with Boris Johnson last month, has been dogged by stories accusing her of a misuse of funds Photograph: Daniel Leal/AP

Patricia Scotland’s hopes of being re-elected Commonwealth secretary general are under threat, after Jamaica’s foreign minister, Kamina Johnson-Smith, announced that she was challenging Scotland for the post.

The decision has sparked controversy in the Caribbean, which had previously met to back Scotland’s bid for a second term. The Antiguan prime minister, Gaston Browne, has described Jamaica’s decision to break ranks as a “monumental error”.