06 March 2024 , 11:06
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Jeremy Hunt enjoyed a stellar rise through the ranks.
With the 2024 Budget set to spark outrage from Labour, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's plans to cut National Insurance and freeze fuel duty have been blasted by Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as 'the final chapter of fourteen years of Tory economic failure'.
This of course won't be the first divisive moment in Hunt's career, with the Tory politician having previously attracted heated criticism during his appointment as the longest-serving Health Secretary in NHS history.
As the nation waits for the announcement that could prove to be a make-or-break point for many struggling families, we take a look at Hunt's career so far, from his post-Oxford days teaching English in Japan, to his rapid rise in the Conservative Party.
Jeremy Hunt will today deliver his Budget statement (AFP via Getty Images)Early years
After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, the now 57-year-old initially worked for a management consultancy firm before spending two years in Japan, where he taught English and studied Japanese.
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Surrey-raised Hunt was first elected to parliament in the 2005 intake, and was appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People. During his tenure, he campaigned successfully for the BBC to make subtitling more widely used on TV shows. In July 2007, Hunt took up the position of Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture Media, and Sport.
When the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed their controversial coalition after the 2010 general election, Hunt became 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 role he was given again in January 2018, with the additional responsibility of Social Care.
Hunt became the longest-serving Health Secretary in NHS history, and his time in this role was not without fierce criticism. As well as being accused of the 'back door privatisation' of the NHS, Hunt also faced backlash for the way in which he handled the junior doctor contract row.
Under Hunt's appointment, A&E departments also failed to consistently meet waiting time targets. While at least 95 per cent of A&E patients should be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours, by the time Hunt left the role it had dipped to just 84 per cent.
In July 2018, Hunt went on to serve as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, a position he held up until July 2019.
Bid for leadership
After former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned in 2022, amid the scandal of 'Partygate', Hunt made a bid for No10. He was knocked out of the race after the very first round of votes from his fellow Tory MPs however, after which point he backed Rishi Sunak as his choice for the next leader - not the short-reigning leader Liz Truss.
In a statement made at the time, Hunt said: "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.
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“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.”