Jeremy Hunt’s rollercoaster profession from English trainer to bid for No. 10

Jeremy Hunt

With the 2024 Budget set to spark outrage from Labour, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt’s plans to chop National Insurance and freeze gas obligation have been blasted by Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as ‘the ultimate chapter of fourteen years of Tory financial failure’.

This after all will not be the primary divisive second in Hunt’s profession, with the Tory politician having beforehand attracted heated criticism throughout his appointment because the longest-serving Health Secretary in NHS historical past.

As the nation waits for the announcement that might show to be a make-or-break level for a lot of struggling households, we check out Hunt’s profession up to now, from his post-Oxford days educating English in Japan, to his fast rise within the Conservative Party.

Early years

After graduating from Oxford University with a level in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, the now 57-year-old initially labored for a administration consultancy agency earlier than spending two years in Japan, the place he taught English and studied Japanese.

Surrey-raised Hunt was first elected to parliament within the 2005 consumption, and was appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People. During his tenure, he campaigned efficiently for the BBC to make subtitling extra extensively used on TV reveals. In July 2007, Hunt took up the place of Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture Media, and Sport.

When the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats shaped their controversial coalition after the 2010 basic election, Hunt turned Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport.

Longest serving Health Secretary

Following a Cabinet reshuffle in 2012, Hunt, who splits his time between Godalming and London, was appointed Secretary of State for Health – a job he was given once more in January 2018, with the extra accountability of Social Care.

Hunt turned the longest-serving Health Secretary in NHS historical past, and his time on this position was not with out fierce criticism. As properly as being accused of the ‘again door privatisation’ of the NHS, Hunt additionally confronted backlash for the way in which during which he dealt with the junior physician contract row.

Under Hunt’s appointment, A&E departments additionally did not persistently meet ready time targets. While not less than 95 per cent of A&E sufferers ought to be admitted, transferred, or discharged inside 4 hours, by the point Hunt left the position it had dipped to only 84 per cent.

In July 2018, Hunt went on to function Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, a place he held up till July 2019.

Bid for management

After former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned in 2022, amid the scandal of ‘Partygate’, Hunt made a bid for Number 10. He was knocked out of the race after the very first spherical of votes from his fellow Tory MPs nevertheless, after which level he backed Rishi Sunak as his alternative for the following chief – not the short-reigning chief Liz Truss.

In a press release made on the time, Hunt stated: “Rishi is one of the most decent, straight people with the highest standards of integrity that I have ever met in British politics and that’s why I would be proud to have him as my next prime minister.”

Years as Chancellor

In October 2022, Hunt was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, a role he holds to this day, alongside his duties as MP for South West Surrey.

Speaking ahead of his Budget statement today, Hunt said: “Because of the progress we’ve made because we are delivering on the Prime Minister’s economic priorities we can now help families with permanent cuts in taxation.

“We do this not just to give help where it is needed in challenging times. But because Conservatives know lower tax means higher growth. And higher growth means more opportunity and more prosperity.”

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