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Jeremy Hunt replaces Boris Johnson as foreign secretary – politics live Jeremy Hunt replaces Boris Johnson as foreign secretary – politics live
(35 minutes later)
The Foreign Office has released footage of the new foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, arriving:
Welcome Foreign Secretary @Jeremy_Hunt pic.twitter.com/8wiJZ6nXOC
Speaking to Sky News just now, Hunt has paid tribute to Boris Johnson’s orchestration of the response to the poisoning of the former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia.
He said his job is to “stand foursquare behind the prime minister” to get through the deal announced after the Chequers talks. Hunt added that nations are looking at the UK “wondering what sort of country we’re going to be in the post-Brext world”, adding that we will be a “dependable ally”.
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of @Geoffrey_Cox QC MP as Attorney General attending Cabinet. Her Majesty has been pleased to approve that he be sworn of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Justin Madders, has said:
Jeremy Hunt has overseen the worst collapse in patient standards of any health secretary in the history of the NHS.
His time in charge will be remembered for soaring waiting lists, huge staffing shortages, and patients left with treatments rationed and operations cancelled in record numbers.
It is an astonishing measure of the meltdown at the heart of the Tory government that this catalogue of failure is rewarded with promotion rather than the sack. Theresa May should call an end to this shambolic farce. Britain needs a functioning government, not this revolving door of failure.
The Press Association is reporting that Boris Johnson has left the foreign secretary’s official residence in central London, following his resignation.
Finally .... pic.twitter.com/YFuopBvIEe
Here’s one that’s unlikely to please Tory hard Brexiters: a few days after the referendum, Jeremy Hunt wrote an article for the Daily Telegraph calling for the UK to remain in the single market and on the government to work out a deal before triggering article 50, then putting it to a second referendum.
The first part of the plan must be clarity that we will remain in the single market. We are the world’s greatest trading nation. We have shaped the world and the world has shaped us through our history of being open to free trade and championing it more than any other. It is not just at the heart of our economic success – it is also at the heart of our identity as one of the most open, liberal, outward-looking societies anywhere.
So the British government needs to calm markets and many worried investors and businesses, both locally and internationally, by making it clear that it is an explicit national objective to remain in the single market even as we leave the institutions of the EU.
In the article, Hunt added:
Before setting the clock ticking, we need to negotiate a deal and put it to the British people, either in a referendum or through the Conservative manifesto at a fresh general election.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those words were written, but Tory backbenchers are already grumbling about the four great offices of state being held by remainers.
A little snap reaction to composition of the cabinet after this round of appointments from a Labour MP and the Spectator’s political editor:
Boys boys boys https://t.co/xYzf52CvO2
All the great offices of state now held by people who campaigned for Remain in the referendum. You can say that shouldn't matter two years on. But quite a few Tory Brexiteers pointing this out, this evening
Responding to Hunt’s appointment as foreign secretary this evening, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson in that policy area, Christine Jardine, has said:Responding to Hunt’s appointment as foreign secretary this evening, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson in that policy area, Christine Jardine, has said:
Jeremy Hunt has been set a devastatingly low bar by his predecessor when it comes to basic competency, with him leaving a litany of errors in his wake. Hunt does, however, also face an impossible challenge when it comes to advocating for Britain around the world at a time when his Conservative government are doing huge damage to our economy and influence in their pursuit of Brexit.Jeremy Hunt has been set a devastatingly low bar by his predecessor when it comes to basic competency, with him leaving a litany of errors in his wake. Hunt does, however, also face an impossible challenge when it comes to advocating for Britain around the world at a time when his Conservative government are doing huge damage to our economy and influence in their pursuit of Brexit.
The public demand better from their government than the farce that they have been presented with this week and must be given the right to have the final say on the Brexit deal.The public demand better from their government than the farce that they have been presented with this week and must be given the right to have the final say on the Brexit deal.
The new health secretary, soon after accepting his promotion:The new health secretary, soon after accepting his promotion:
Really looking forward to joining @DHSCgovuk at such an important time for our great NHS. I can’t wait to get startedReally looking forward to joining @DHSCgovuk at such an important time for our great NHS. I can’t wait to get started
Loved the last two years @DCMS and thank you to all the brilliant digital dynamos, artists & mission-driven civil servants, who worked so hard to achieve so much #ThankYouLoved the last two years @DCMS and thank you to all the brilliant digital dynamos, artists & mission-driven civil servants, who worked so hard to achieve so much #ThankYou
Now we have that confirmation: Jeremy Wright QC, the attorney general, is appointed culture secretary.Now we have that confirmation: Jeremy Wright QC, the attorney general, is appointed culture secretary.
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
As we await possible further ministerial appointments, here’s Pippa Cerar on why Boris Johnson felt he had to resign – leading us to this point.As we await possible further ministerial appointments, here’s Pippa Cerar on why Boris Johnson felt he had to resign – leading us to this point.
Hancock gets the bolt-on social car brief Hunt was given, though there is no confirmation of what happens to his current job – culture secretary.Hancock gets the bolt-on social car brief Hunt was given, though there is no confirmation of what happens to his current job – culture secretary.
Matt Hancock, currently the culture secretary, replaces Jeremy Hunt as the health secretary, Downing Street announces.Matt Hancock, currently the culture secretary, replaces Jeremy Hunt as the health secretary, Downing Street announces.
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon @MattHancock MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon @MattHancock MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
So, the rumours were true.So, the rumours were true.
Here – again – is Jessica Elgot’s profile of Jeremy Hunt, the great political survivor, from last month:Here – again – is Jessica Elgot’s profile of Jeremy Hunt, the great political survivor, from last month:
One parliamentary colleague said of him:One parliamentary colleague said of him:
He’s on manoeuvres, there’s no doubt. The question is how far he is really prepared to push it.He’s on manoeuvres, there’s no doubt. The question is how far he is really prepared to push it.
And Jess’s take today:And Jess’s take today:
Jeremy Hunt leaves Department of Health having just secured £20bn for the NHS and leaving his successor with the poisoned chalice that is social care.Jeremy Hunt leaves Department of Health having just secured £20bn for the NHS and leaving his successor with the poisoned chalice that is social care.
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Rt Hon @Jeremy_Hunt as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Rt Hon @Jeremy_Hunt as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Apropos of absolutely nothing, here’s my profile from last month on Jeremy Hunt’s leadership hopes https://t.co/jufjCs7BlwApropos of absolutely nothing, here’s my profile from last month on Jeremy Hunt’s leadership hopes https://t.co/jufjCs7Blw
Rumours are circulating in Westminster that the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, could be asked to replace Boris Johnson as foreign secretary:
Looks like Hunt for new Foreign Sec? Goes into Downing Street... pic.twitter.com/hy0cTGp8vC
It appears Theresa May is currently asking Jeremy Hunt to be her new Foreign Secretary. Will he refuse that promotion too? Surely not...
Jeremy Hunt in Number 10
There is nothing even approaching confirmation on that at the moment, mind.
The Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, is backing the prime minister – using language very similar to that in the latter’s note to Boris Johnson:
Statement. pic.twitter.com/YxNy8dMxwi
May’s letter also contains a clear retort to Johnson’s thinly veiled reference in his own correspondence to the leave campaign’s debunked slogan about spending £350m on the NHS, instead of sending it to the EU.
May wrote that her Brexit plan would mean and end to “the days of sending vast sums of taxpayers’ money to the European Union”.
We will be able to spend that money on our priorities instead – such as the £20bn increase we have announced for the NHS budget, which means that we will soon be spending an extra £394m a week on our National Health Service.
May’s own claims on that have also raised serious questions, of course.
The prime minister also seems to strike a slightly irritated note with a now former foreign secretary whose resignation or sacking has repeatedly been mooted during her tenure.
As we developed our policy on Brexit, I have allowed cabinet colleagues considerable latitude to express their individual views. But the agreement we reached on Friday marks the point where that is no longer the case, and if you are not able to provide the support we need to secure this deal in the interests of the United Kingdom, it is right that you should step down.
The prime minister, Theresa May, has replied to Boris Johnson’s resignation by pointing out that he initially agreed to the plan over which he is now resigning. She wrote:
I am sorry – and a little surprised – to receive [your resignation letter] after the productive discussions we had at Chequers on Friday, and the comprehensive and detailed proposal which we agreed as a cabinet.
It would appear Boris Johnson’s former parliamentary private secretary, Conor Burns, is following him out the door:
I've enjoyed a fantastic year as PPS to @BorisJohnson and six years as PPS to five different Ministers. I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are others areas of policy I want to speak more openly on.
With one attendee having resigned shortly after what had initially appeared to be a reasonably successful meeting of the 1922 committee for Theresa May, a packed-out meeting of the influential hard Brexit European Research Group will be one to watch:
A bigger than usual group of 80 backbench Tory MPs has turned out for the meeting of the European Research Group tonight. Could be interesting.
Chris Green, the parliamentary private secretary to the Department for Transport, has resigned.
He says Brexit should not exist solely in a legalistic sense and that the prime minister failed to assuage his concerns at the meeting of the Tory backbenchers this evening – the first major sign of discontentment since that meeting ended.
I have handed in my resignation to the Prime Minister as PPS. Brexit must mean Brexit pic.twitter.com/zncKir9AsB
The Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is largely staying out of the crisis that is threatening to engulf Theresa May’s government, with his spokesperson saying the high-profile resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson are matters for the May.
On the Brexit negotiations, however, Varadkar’s spokesperson was much more forthright:
We welcome the fact that the British cabinet agreed collectively on detailed proposals for the future relationship between the EU and Britain on Friday. And we look forward to seeing greater detail in the UK’s white paper later this week.
There’s still a lot of work to do, particularly from the British side. Time is running out.
The commitments the UK has already signed up to must be translated into the withdrawal agreement and we need to intensify efforts on all outstanding issues, especially the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In his resignation letter, Boris Johnson brought up an example he has cited before about supposed EU inflexibility – delays in changing lorry standards to permit bigger windows, so drivers can more easily see cyclists and pedestrian.
In the letter, Johnson describes a meeting at Chequers in February, “when I described by frustrations, as mayor of London, in trying to protect cyclists for juggernauts. We had wanted to lower the cabin windows to improve visibility; and even though such designs were already on the market, and even though there had already been a horrific spate of deaths, mainly of female cyclists, we were told we had to wait for the EU to legislate on the matter.”
Is he justified in this? Well, yes and no. Critics said that EU rules on lorry design had tended to prioritise views via mirrors over blind spots, and campaigners had called for some time for a change.
But, when the EU did act to amend this in 2014, Johnson had directed his ire elsewhere – at the government of David Cameron, which was wary about the plans. Johnson said he was “deeply concerned at their attitude”.
In the end the government did accept the idea, and the new, safer lorries started being permitted from this year.
The prime minister, Theresa May, addressed MPs at a private 1922 Committee meeting for an hour, warning them that divided parties would lose elections and that any further division risked bringing about a Labour government. She was backed by loyalist MPs such as Patrick McLoughlin and Damian Green.
One cabinet minister said:
If we don’t pull together, we risk the election of Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. At least half a dozen people made that point and the prime minister responded too – what is good for the country is a Conservative government.
There was a strong coming-together of the party – even some Brexit MPs right on the end of the spectrum. They might have arguments with the policy, but they are backing the prime minister.
MPs banged walls and chairs as the prime minister entered, a public show of support. The party chair, Brandon Lewis, said:
Everyone in the room is very confident of her ability to deliver. We are a wide tent, of course, with different views. This is the right package for our country.
Referring to the atmosphere in the room, one MP added:
It wasn’t a chorus of dissent, but it wasn’t universally positive. Some of the Brexiters are very vigorous individuals, they make their views known in quite strong language.
But the hard Brexit-supporting backbencher, Jacob Rees-Mogg, whom some see as a future Tory leader, said he had not been won over.
The striking thing about Chequers is that the cabinet divided between remainers and leavers in exactly the same way as they did two years ago. Those who supported remain are supporting the quasi-remain now.
Rees-Mogg said it was of “grave concern” that the government had briefed Labour MPs. “If they plan to get this deal through on the back of Labour votes, that would be the most divisive thing that they can do.”
However, his fellow Brexiter MP, Geoffrey Cox, said he had been won over by the deal.
It means for the first time that the EU will not make laws inside this country. I campaigned for Brexit, I am going to be able to tell people now that for the first time in 40 years, no supranational institution in the EU will be able to make a new law for this country. I don’t think that all my colleagues had understood that.