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Jeremy Hunt ‘seriously considering’ Tory leadership bid Jeremy Hunt ‘seriously considering’ Tory leadership bid
(35 minutes later)
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has said he is “seriously considering” a bid for the Conservative leadership as he called for the public to be given a say on Britain’s terms for leaving the European Union. Jeremy Hunt has said he is “seriously considering” running for the Conservative leadership and called for the public to be given a say on Britain’s terms for leaving the European Union.
Hunt, who pushed through changes to doctors’ pay that triggered five strikes, including the first all-out walkout by junior doctors in NHS history, said he wanted the UK to secure continued access to the European single market. Hunt, who as health secretary was involved in a long-running contract dispute with junior doctors that triggered five strikes, said he wanted the UK to secure continued access to the European single market.
Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain if he would pit himself against potential rivals such as Boris Johnson and Theresa May, he said: “I am seriously considering it.”Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain if he would pit himself against potential rivals such as Boris Johnson and Theresa May, he said: “I am seriously considering it.”
Hunt’s declaration of a possible run came after the chancellor, George Osborne, ruled himself out, saying it was clear he could not provide the unity the party needed.Hunt’s declaration of a possible run came after the chancellor, George Osborne, ruled himself out, saying it was clear he could not provide the unity the party needed.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he warned that “the country is going to be poorer” in the wake of the Brexit vote in last week’s referendum. “We need a plan as a country to get ourselves out of this, while respecting the decision of the British people,” he said. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Osborne said “the country is going to be poorer” in the wake of last week’s referendum vote to leave the EU. “We need a plan as a country to get ourselves out of this, while respecting the decision of the British people,” he said.
Osborne said he warned of the economic risks of leaving the EU, but would now do “everything I can” to steer the country through it – but insisted it was not for the “remain” camp to formulate a plan to exit the EU. Osborne warned of the economic risks of leaving the EU and said he would do everything he could to steer the country through it, – but insisted it was not for the remain camp to formulate a plan to exit the union.
“It was was not the responsibility of those who wanted to remain in the EU to explain what plan we would follow if we voted to quit the EU,” he said.“It was was not the responsibility of those who wanted to remain in the EU to explain what plan we would follow if we voted to quit the EU,” he said.
Nominations for the race to succeed David Cameron open on Wednesday when backbenchers meet to approve the timetable for the contest – which is due to produce a new prime minister by 2 September. Nominations for the race to succeed David Cameron open on Wednesday when backbenchers meet to approve the timetable for the contest, which is due to produce a new prime minister by 2 September.
Whoever ends up in No 10 will begin extracting the UK from the bloc, after Cameron said he would not initiate the process before handing over the reins despite pressure from Brussels for a swift departure. Whoever ends up in No 10 will begin extracting the UK from the bloc, after Cameron said he would not initiate the process before handing over the reins, despite pressure from Brussels for a swift departure.
Polling for the Times meanwhile suggested Theresa May has overtaken Boris Johnson as the Tories’ favourite. Hunt, who previously said he expected the health brief to be his “last big job in politics”, rejected suggestions that the new leader had to come from the pro-Brexit camp.
Hunt, who previously said he expected the health brief to be his “last big job in politics”, rejected suggestions that the new leader had to come from the pro-Brexit camp. “They are not going to choose someone who does not accept the verdict of the British people,” he told the ITV morning show. “They are not going to choose someone who does not accept the verdict of the British people,” he told the ITV morning show. “But I think now we’ve got to move beyond that argument. We are leaving the EU and we have got to have a discussion about the kind of country we want to be.
“But I think now we’ve got to move beyond that argument. We are leaving the EU and we have got to have a discussion about the kind of country we want to be.
“What I am making the argument for is what I call the ‘Norway-plus’ model. Norway is a member of the single market, they have full access to the world’s largest single market. They get all the jobs and prosperity and we need that as a great trading nation. But what we need is something else, which is a sensible restriction on the free movement rules which have created the immigration that has worried a lot of people.”“What I am making the argument for is what I call the ‘Norway-plus’ model. Norway is a member of the single market, they have full access to the world’s largest single market. They get all the jobs and prosperity and we need that as a great trading nation. But what we need is something else, which is a sensible restriction on the free movement rules which have created the immigration that has worried a lot of people.”
Hunt said there did not necessarily have to be a second referendum but that there should be “some democratic endorsement of the terms” that could include making the deal part of a Conservative general election manifesto. Hunt said there did not necessarily have to be a second referendum but there should be “some democratic endorsement of the terms” that could include making the deal part of a Conservative general election manifesto.
May, the home secretary, and Johnson, former London mayor, are among leading figures who are expected to spend the day drumming up support for potential leadership bids ahead of nominations opening on Wednesday. Polling for the Times, meanwhile, suggested May had overtaken Johnson as the Tories’ favourite. The home secretary is favoured by 31% of Conservative voters against 24% for the former London mayor, according to the YouGov poll.
But a surge in support for May has seen her leap ahead of the bookies’ favourite to win the contest to replace Cameron, research for the Times found. The Cabinet minister is favoured by 31% of Conservative voters against 24% for Mr Johnson, according to the YouGov poll.
The work and pensions secretary, Stephen Crabb, and the business secretary, Sajid Javid, are reportedly considering standing on a joint ticket.The work and pensions secretary, Stephen Crabb, and the business secretary, Sajid Javid, are reportedly considering standing on a joint ticket.
Others who are considering throwing their hat into the ring include the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, and former frontbencher Liam Fox, while Brexit campaigners Andrea Leadsom and Priti Patel are expected to stand, according to reports. Other possible candidates include the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, and the former frontbencher Liam Fox, while Brexit campaigners Andrea Leadsom and Priti Patel are expected to stand, according to reports.