Jeremy Hunt

Jeremy Hunt is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since October 2022, first under Prime Minister Liz Truss and subsequently under Rishi Sunak. A senior figure in the Conservative Party, he previously held the high-profile cabinet positions of Foreign Secretary and Health Secretary. His tenure at the Treasury has been defined by efforts to stabilize the UK economy following the mini-budget crisis.

Early life and education

Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt was born in London and spent part of his childhood in Godalming, Surrey. He was educated at Charterhouse School, an independent school, before reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Magdalen College, Oxford. At the University of Oxford, he was a contemporary of future political figures like David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and served as President of the Oxford University Conservative Association. Before entering politics, he pursued a career in business, working in management consultancy and later co-founding a educational publishing company, Hotcourses.

Political career

Hunt was first elected as the Member of Parliament for South West Surrey in the 2005 general election. He entered the Shadow Cabinet in 2007 as Shadow Culture Secretary. Following the formation of the Cameron–Clegg coalition in 2010, he was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, overseeing the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2012, he was promoted to the role of Health Secretary, a position he held for a record six years through the administrations of David Cameron and Theresa May, navigating challenges such as industrial action by the British Medical Association.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Appointed by Liz Truss in October 2022 to restore market confidence after the mini-budget, Hunt swiftly reversed most of his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng's tax measures. He has since served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Rishi Sunak, with a central focus on fiscal discipline and reducing inflation. His major fiscal events have included the Autumn Statement 2022 and the Spring Budget 2023, which featured significant tax rises and spending restraint. His tenure has involved difficult negotiations with institutions like the Bank of England and the Office for Budget Responsibility, and he has presented the Spring Budget 2024.

Political positions and views

Hunt is considered to be on the One-Nation wing of the Conservative Party. As Health Secretary, he was a prominent advocate for reforming the National Health Service, including introducing a seven-day service and new contracts for NHS staff. On economic policy, his approach as Chancellor of the Exchequer has been fiscally conservative, prioritizing stability and debt reduction. He supported the Remain campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum but later accepted the result, serving as Foreign Secretary during the final stages of negotiations with the European Union.

Personal life

Hunt is married to Lucia Guo, a Chinese national he met while she was working in London, and they have three children. The family resides in his constituency. An avid marathon runner, he has completed the London Marathon and speaks conversational Japanese, having worked as an English teacher in Japan for two years before university. He is also the author of a book, *How to Make It in Politics*. Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Chancellors of the Exchequer Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs