Jeremy Hunt

Former leadership contender is back in cabinet as PM tries to reach out to other sections of Tory party.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats said Truss now needed to stand down. In the 2019 Tory race to succeed Theresa May, Hunt made it to the final round but was easily beaten by Boris Johnson in the ballot of party members. Hunt, who has been on the backbenches since Boris Johnson became prime minister in 2019, is seen as coming from the more one-nation wing of the party.

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Jeremy Hunt was named Britain's new finance minister on Friday, the latest senior ministerial role for the self-proclaimed ...

During a trip to China in July in 2018, he mistakenly described his wife Lucia, who hails from China, as being Japanese. Ironically, though, while Truss has said she will press ahead with a cut to income tax, Hunt said at the time that could wait. "We need to start up Britain now," he told the Sunday Telegraph when he announced his candidacy. Rash talk of ditching the PM, or calls for a general election, will not calm the financial markets." "He is trusted and respected across parliament. "It’s become obvious to me you only get one big shot at this, and I had mine in 2019," he said after he was eliminated from the running, appearing to concede that his ambitions to get to the top of politics had been ended.

Experienced cabinet minister not likely to propose more U-turns but Tory MPs divided over whether he will save PM.

Kwarteng's replacement is warned of inflation impact, crumbling services and financial 'black hole' that he has two weeks to fill.

However, many economists believe the OBR is unlikely to endorse that view. [NHS](https://www.theguardian.com/society/nhs), schools and all our public services have been slashed to the bone over the last 12 years. Truss has refused to spell out whether benefits will rise in line with inflation next April, as previously promised by Sunak. Details of so-called “supply-side reforms”, expected to include planning changes and deregulation of the childcare sector, are yet to be announced. Truss said: “We will control the size of the state to ensure that taxpayers’ money is always well spent.” “Hospital waiting lists are at record highs, school buildings are crumbling before our eyes and local services are on their knees.”

Liz Truss's new chancellorJeremy Hunt has warned of “difficult” spending cuts ahead after he admitted that “mistakes” were made in last month's mini-Budget.

But he made clear he was now implementing his economic plans, not that of Mr Kwarteng and Ms Truss, which was due to be outlined on Halloween. And he suggested the planned 1p cut to income tax could be dumped. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) With his appointment, Mr Hunt become the fourth chancellor in four months. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism [In a unexpected moment](/tv/news/bbc-jeremy-hunt-miriam-margolyes-b2203359.html), his attempts to set out his economic strategy were momentarily derailed as the actress Miriam Margolyes told the [Today](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/today) programme that when she saw him enter the studio she told him: “‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’” He also refused to commit to the prime minister’s pledged 1p cut in income tax and to raise defence spending to 3 per cent as he admitted that “mistakes” were made in last month’s mini-Budget. [chancellor ](/topic/chancellor) [Jeremy Hunt has ](/topic/jeremy-hunt)said taxes will rise and warned of [“difficult”](/news/uk/politics/liz-truss-press-conference-kwarteng-b2202845.html) [spending cuts](/topic/spending-cuts) ahead, in an extraordinary series of interviews just hours after taking up the post.

Mr Hunt told Sky News that Liz Truss "has recognised" the errors in her mini-budget, adding: "That's why I'm here."

And we have to make sure as we take these very difficult decisions, we're honest with people about the situation we face." Asked if this would mean a return to austerity, he replied: "I don't think we're talking about austerity in the way we had it in 2010. Does this mean pushing back the 2023 cut to the basic rate of income tax? "This is a disaster and the only way to deal with a disaster is a general election and to set our country on a certain path for the next five years." "No chancellor can control the markets, but what I can do is show that we can pay for our tax and spending plans and that is going to need some very difficult decisions." [Hunt warns of 'difficult decisions' - follow politics latest](https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-new-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-to-appear-on-sky-news-as-tory-mps-turn-on-beleaguered-liz-truss-politics-latest-12593360)

Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked due to the controversial tax cut plans which led to turmoil in financial markets.

And some taxes will not be cut as quickly as people want, and some taxes will go up. “Spending will not rise by as much as people would like to all government departments are going to have to find more efficiencies than they were planning to. Hunt told Sky News on Saturday in his first full day in the job.

The new chancellor will be running the show, and Truss will be a sort of 'PRINO' – prime minister in name only.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Mr Hunt denied that the UK was returning to an austerity era, but he did admit that “difficult” decisions needed to be made on spending.

He told Sky News: “We will have some very difficult decisions ahead. So it’s going to be difficult. But as we take those difficult decisions, my priority, our values as a Government, will be to protect families, businesses, who are going through a very challenging time.” "It was a mistake when we’re going to be asking for difficult decisions across the board on tax and spending to cut the rate of tax paid by the very wealthiest. [Kwasi Kwarteng](https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/23049048.new-chancellor-uk-kwasi-kwarteng-breaks-silence-sacked-liz-truss/) as Chancellor on Friday by Prime Minister [Liz Truss](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/20903652.liz-truss-named-next-prime-minister-uk-beating-rishi-sunak-replace-boris-johnson/) following weeks of fall-out over the mini-budget. [New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23049073.jeremy-hunt-replace-kwasi-kwarteng-chancellor-say-reports/), has said that mistakes have been made by the government as he indicates that tax rises are on the way.

Jeremy Hunt has told the BBC that his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng made two mistakes in the mini-budget.

"[Truss] has been prime minister for less than five weeks. [described sacking Mr Kwarteng and scrapping another key economic policy as "difficult"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63261432) and admitted in a short press conference on Friday that "parts of our mini-budget went further and faster" than the markets were expecting. "And it was wrong to fly blind and to announce those plans without reassuring people with the discipline of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that we actually can afford to pay for them." Addressing mistakes he said were made by the ex-chancellor, Mr Hunt said: "There were two mistakes - it was wrong to cut the top rate of tax for the very highest earners at a time where we're going to have to be asking for sacrifices from everyone to get through a very difficult period. He told BBC Breakfast he was "not going to make any commitments" and reiterated he was just hours into the job. Mr Hunt said he agreed with the prime minister's goal of "solving the growth paradox", but added: "The way we went about it clearly wasn't right and that's why I'm sitting here now."

Newly appointed UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on Oct. 14, 2022. Jeremy Hunt, former foreign ...

Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary of the United Kingdom (UK), has been appointed as chancellor of the exchequer, Downing Street said in a statement on Friday. [Contact Us](http://en.people.cn/102840/8347260.html) [Join Us](http://english.people.com.cn/n3/2020/0326/c90000-9672920.html) "As I have said many times in the past weeks, following the status quo was simply not an option. Newly appointed UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on Oct. dollar while the cost of government borrowing and mortgage rates surge.

The situation for the UK prime minister is dire, but is it hopeless? Having Jeremy Hunt in No. 11 Downing Street could still save her.

Although he is a free-marketeer by conviction, a big plus point for Hunt is that he gets the importance of empathy. Contrast that with Truss’s failure to acknowledge the cost to homeowners of the soaring mortgage bills that followed the mini-budget. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator. The government has a maximum of two years before its allotted time is up, but the prime minister may struggle to survive her MPs’ displeasure until next month. The prime minister is now surrendering the major planks of her libertarian program. Although another leadership putsch would install the fifth Tory prime minister in six years, fear of electoral oblivion is driving the parliamentary party to contemplate desperate measures. Has the prime minister too become a figurehead? The markets had already baked in surrender. Unlike Wilson and Major, who had earlier triumphed at the polls, this prime minister has no electoral mandate for her libertarian prospectus. Harold Wilson, the UK’s most economically literate prime minister since World War II, for instance, wasted enormous political capital defending the value of the pound. On Friday, the prime minister duly performed her screeching U-turn but refused to resign. The situation is dire, but is it hopeless?

New chancellor vows to be 'completely honest with country' amid rumours PM has only weeks left in role.

But we are talking about very difficult decisions in budgets where there is already a great deal of pressure.” Hunt, twice a Tory leadership contender and a former foreign secretary, said: “We will have some very difficult decisions ahead. Some taxes will go up … It was a mistake, when we’re going to be asking for difficult decisions across the board on tax and spending, to cut the rate of tax paid by the very wealthiest. “It was a mistake to fly blind and to do these forecasts without giving people the confidence of the Office for [replacing Kwasi Kwarteng](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/14/jeremy-hunt-chancellor-surprising-return) on Friday, the former health secretary signalled he would have a “clean slate” when it came to the budget, and vowed to be “completely honest with the country” amid rumours that Truss has only weeks left as prime minister.

New chancellor says taxes must rise after prime minister Liz Truss failed to reassure markets.

Under-pressure UK Prime Minister Liz Truss appointed Jeremy Hunt as her new Chancellor of the Exchequer, replacing Kwasi Kwarteng after just 38 days in ...

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, the Harry Potter actress said: “When I saw him there I just said 'you've got a helluva job, the best of…

[new Chancellor conducted his first interview](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23051141.new-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-hints-tax-rises-coming-amid-very-difficult-decisions/) in his new role on Saturday morning where he suggested that tax rises and 'difficult decisions' could be on the way. “We’ll have to have you out of the studio now.” [Who was Britain's shortest serving Chancellor of the Exchequer?](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23049197.new-chancellor-uk-shortest-serving-chancellor-exchequer/) [flooded social media in tribute](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23050692.tributes-paid-star-harry-potter-cracker-robbie-coltrane/) for the late actor who was most famous for his portrayal of the beloved gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid in the franchise. [What were the roles Robbie Coltrane was known for, as he dies aged 72?](https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23050698.robbie-coltrane-roles-made-famous/) [Miriam Margoyles](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23051277.miriam-margolyes-causes-chaos-bbc-radio-4-today-swearing-jeremy-hunt-live-air/) did not hold back in a BBC interview when she met the new [Chancellor Jeremy Hunt](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23049073.jeremy-hunt-replace-kwasi-kwarteng-chancellor-say-reports/) on the way into the studio.

Actor, 81, told BBC's Today programme she wished him luck in his new job but wanted to say 'Fuck you, bastard'

Webb quickly apologised for the language, adding: “Oh, no, no, no, you mustn’t say that. No, you can’t say that! [added herself](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/victoria-derbyshire-jeremy-hunt-wrong-name_uk_5cfe2cb3e4b02ee34779ee5f) to a long list of presenters who have inadvertently referred to him as “Jeremy Cunt”. [Jeremy Hunt](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/jeremy-hunt) “Fuck you, bastard” after his appearance on BBC Radio 4 just one day after he was [announced as the replacement](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/14/liz-truss-appoints-jeremy-hunt-as-chancellor-after-sacking-kwarteng) for Kwasi Kwarteng. The moment was shared widely on Twitter, including by Dino Sofos, the creator of the BBC’s Brexitcast, who described Margolyes’ comments as “possibly the greatest moment in the Today programme’s history”. [Miriam Margolyes](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/miriam-margolyes) shocked listeners by saying “Fuck you, bastard” about the new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, live on air on Saturday.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said the UK faces tough choices on tax and spending, as he seeks to calm financial markets with a marked change of ...

The actress told the BBC's Today programme she greeted the new chancellor, but wanted to say something else.

"Oh, no, no, no, you mustn't say that. No, you can't say that!" "Miriam Margolyes" was trending on Twitter after the show, with people sharing clips of the radio interview.

The new chancellor has junked the prime minister's economic strategy in 24 hours, writes Laura Kuenssberg.

One former minister said there had been a "total seepage of power and authority" and she is on her way out in either weeks or months. Believe the polls and Ms Truss' start in office has been an epic disaster from which it is hard to see a return. Boris Johnson and Theresa May survived far, far longer than many of their colleagues had hoped. But that arithmetic won't be pretty - public spending cuts are on the way and taxes could rise too. And yet, very often, it does. But has she killed off what political authority she had left and handed it to someone else?

Liz Truss made two big moves on Friday in a bid to calm the markets and save her premiership. The first was to announce that she was ditching plans to ...

Economists, politicians and journalists have been pointing to the fact that Truss would need to find some way to fill the financial blackhole. The new chancellor is ultimately unsackable at least in the medium term given his appointment is meant to prop Truss up. Now the suggestion from Hunt that some taxes will go up and there could be spending cuts in order to balance the books isn't exactly revolutionary. It was viewed as so bad that something needed to change when it came to the government's plans. That is going to mean some very difficult decisions on both spending and tax. The first was to announce that she was ditching plans to cancel the scheduled corporation tax rise.

Tax-cut U-turns won't be enough to balance the books, so the new chancellor will look at cutting public service budgets. But there is an alternative.

There is a way out for Hunt, at least in the short term. The health service, social care, the defence budget and education were going to be protected under Sunak’s tax raising plans. This would protect disabled people and others who might lose out under such a scheme. Jeremy Hunt is unlikely to give his name to a new economic model or ground-breaking method of boosting growth. [Kwasi Kwarteng](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/kwasi-kwarteng) in his mini-budget, will go ahead as the first of many policy U-turns to be announced in a full-scale budget a fortnight tomorrow. [Office for Budget Responsibility](https://www.theguardian.com/business/office-for-budget-responsibility), the Treasury’s independent forecaster, will want to see a much larger shift in policy to close a £60bn gap in public spending that has opened up since it last judged the government’s finances back in March.

Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday called Mr. Hunt “one of the most experienced and widely respected government ministers and parliamentarians” after firing her ...

Mr. Before entering politics Mr. He pushed for stronger measures to contain Covid-19 early in the pandemic, including lockdowns. At the time, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a think tank, warned that Mr. In 2019 he lost out in the final round to In a sign of the chaos surrounding Downing Street, Mr. Hunt is that he doesn’t have a wide base within the Conservative Party. The appointment of Mr. During a 2019 leadership contest, he pledged to cut corporate taxes to 12.5%—a bigger cut than the one proposed by Ms. Hunt will present a plan aimed at bringing the nation’s debt under control in the medium term on Oct. He is not a disrupter,” said Tony Travers, a politics professor at the London School of Economics. He was nicknamed by colleagues as “Theresa May in trousers,” a reference to the staid former British prime minister.

The ex-health secretary - who backed Rishi Sunak in the leadership race - takes over at a crucial time.

He said at the time that "every member of his family" has had the disease and that he had "a minor one" himself. Earlier in 2012, he faced calls to resign over his role in the BSkyB takeover bid. When the business was sold in 2017, Hunt netted a reported £14m, making him one of the UK's richest politicians. This was after his predecessor Mr Johnson quit over Theresa May's Brexit strategy. In the leadership race this year, he put his weight behind former chancellor Rishi Sunak over Liz Truss. But prior to his career in parliament, Mr Hunt had a career as an English teacher in Japan and as an entrepreneur - co-founding the Hotcourses education publisher.