# Jeremy Hunt

Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (born 1 November 1966) is a British politician serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer from October 2022 to the 2024 general election. He was Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from July 2018, after Boris Johnson resigned from the post, but was replaced when Johnson replaced Theresa May as prime minister. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Surrey since 2005.

## Quotes
### 2013

* We look at the European Union and we worry about Britain's ability to compete in the global race... the Conservative Party says if we are going to be successful in that global race we need to renegotiate our relationship with Europe and give the British people a say.
** Europe: Conservatives are united, says Jeremy Hunt BBC News (19 May 2013)
* [David Cameron] and I would like to have a relationship with Europe where we can stay in the European Union and be confident we can be successful in the global race
** Europe: Conservatives are united, says Jeremy Hunt BBC News (19 May 2013)

### 2015

* This government was the first to introduce tough measures to clamp down on migrants accessing the NHS and these changes will recover up to £500m per year to put back into frontline patient care.
** Non-EU patients 'should be charged for GP services' BBC News (6 December 2015)

### 2016

* I firmly believe that after the deal the prime minister negotiated in Europe, Britain will be better off and more secure if we remain a member of the EU. The settlement secures special status for Britain giving us a stronger voice and platform for freedom, democracy and human rights. It also means our sovereignty and the British Pound are protected and will ensure that as part of the EU we carry more weight and influence on future important decisions.
** What is Brexit? Conservative Surrey MPs divided over in/out EU question Get Surrey (1 March 2016)

### 2017

* We want Brexit to make Britain more global, and not more insular
** Boris Johnson attacks Vince Cable for 'peddling lies', BBC News (31 July 2017)

### 2018

* We are in an absolutely critical moment in the Brexit discussions and what that means is that we need to get behind Theresa May to deliver the best possible Brexit. The more that we undermine Theresa May the more likely we are to end up with a fudge, which would be an absolute disaster for everyone.
** Business Brexit 'threats' are 'inappropriate' says Hunt BBC News (24 June 2018)
* [I will support Theresa May] so that we can get through an agreement with the European Union based on what was agreed by the cabinet last week at Chequers
** Theresa May's new-look cabinet meets amid Brexit turmoil BBC News (10 July 2018)
* [The EU must] ensure its sanctions against Russia are comprehensive and we truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the US
** Jeremy Hunt wants 'malign' Russia to face tougher sanctions, BBC News (21 August 2018)
* Those who do not share our values need to know that there will always be a serious price to pay if red lines are crossed, whether territorial incursions, the use of banned weapons or increasingly cyber attacks
** What does Jeremy Hunt want from the United States?, BBC News (22 August 2018)
* If you put us in a difficult corner, we will stand our ground - that is the kind of country we are.
** Jeremy Hunt: Don't mistake politeness for weakness, BBC News (22 September 2018)
* If you turn the EU club into a prison, the desire to get out of it won't diminish, it will grow and we won't be the only prisoner that will want to escape.
** 'I do believe in Brexit,' says Theresa May BBC News (30 September 2018)
* The EU was set up to protect freedom. It was the Soviet Union that stopped people leaving.
** Brexit: EU figures demand Jeremy Hunt apologise for Soviet comparison, BBC News (2 October 2018)
* The only way that we're going to get through the House of Commons and give the British people the Brexit that they voted for is to have a version of the deal that the government has negotiated.
** Brexit: Amber Rudd urges MPs to 'forge a consensus' BBC News (15 December 2018)
* Britain has long championed international religious freedom
** Jeremy Hunt orders review into persecuted Christians' plight, BBC News (26 December 2018)

### 2019

* If this deal is rejected, ultimately what we may end up with is not a different type of Brexit but Brexit paralysis. And Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit. I'm saying this would be (an) incredibly damaging breach of trust and it would also be very bad for Britain's reputation abroad, having decided to leave the EU, if we in the end for whatever reasons found we weren't able to do it.
** Brexit: Hunt warns of Brexit 'paralysis' if deal is rejected, BBC News (11 January 2019)
* The mother chose to leave a free country to join a terrorist organisation
** Shamima Begum: 'Not safe' to rescue IS bride's baby, says Hunt, BBC News (10 March 2019)
* There is one very big difference between me and Boris, which is that I am foreign secretary and I have a very big job to do to try and get this deal over the line and that has to be my focus. I think that what matters is we have a cabinet that believes in Brexit.
** Brexit: Jeremy Hunt says 'absolute priority' to avoid European polls, BBC News (15 April 2019)
* So for these and other reasons I believe it is time for the next Strategic Defence and Security Review to ask whether, over the coming decade, we should decisively increase the proportion of GDP we devote to defence
** Jeremy Hunt says UK 'should consider defence spending boost', BBC News (14 May 2019)
* Both of us would be crucified by our base if we went into a general election having promised that we would respect the referendum result and not having respected it
** Brexit: PM and Corbyn holding meeting over cross-party talks BBC News (14 May 2019)
* [I have the business experience to secure a Brexit agreement.] Doing deals is my bread and butter
** Tory leadership: Raab sets out leader bid as Gove joins race, BBC News (27 May 2019)
* [There is an] existential risk to our party unless we now come together and get Brexit done
** Tory leadership: Johnson says party on 'final warning' BBC News (27 May 2019)
* We need to deliver Brexit and my job is to make sure we have a debate about how we do that
** Jeremy Hunt warns over 'hard-line' Brexit approach, BBC News (31 May 2019)
* It is really important to deliver a Brexit that works not just for the 52% who voted to leave the European Union, but for the 48% who didn't
** What are Conservative leadership candidates saying about Scotland? BBC News (12 June 2019)
* [I would accept a no-deal Brexit if] there is no prospect of a deal by 31 October
** Tory leadership race: EU will renegotiate Brexit package, says Hunt BBC News (16 June 2019)
* I think we should have an independent inquiry because the cancer of racism and prejudice is not restricted to any one political party. We have been very vociferous calling out Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism and if we are going to do that, and I think we are right to do that, then we have to be whiter than white ourselves.
** Tory leadership rivals back Islamophobia inquiry BBC News (19 June 2019)
* Thousands of jobs in the West Midlands depend on having a wise prime minister making sensible calls as to how we leave the EU promptly, but also in a way that does not harm business. I am that person.
** Tory leadership: Jeremy Hunt says contest is about trust BBC News (21 June 2019)
* [I am] passionately committed to the [UK] Union
** Tory tensions over keeping the UK intact BBC News (22 June 2019)
* My plan for defence will give our brave troops the backing they need and show the world that when it comes to the new threats to Western values, Britain is back and Britain's voice will be strong
** Jeremy Hunt: I would spend £15bn more on defence BBC News (25 June 2019)
* [I am prepared to leave without a deal, but not if there was a] prospect of a better deal
** Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt divided over Brexit plans BBC News (26 June 2019)
* I would never pay any price if it meant that Scotland would become independent.
** Tory leadership: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt on Scotland BBC News (27 June 2019)
* But I'm also very clear that we are going to leave the European Union come what may and I will deliver that. If that happens, I will do it in a way that protects the union because it's absolutely vital that we do.
** Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt pledge to safeguard union BBC News (30 June 2019)
* anyone who thinks I am going to write a blank cheque to the European Union is sorely mistaken
** Brexit: Jeremy Hunt 'could withhold part of £39bn divorce bill' BBC News (30 June 2019)
* As a businessman I always paid my bills. That being said, if we leave without a deal I will not hand over a penny more than is legally required of us.
** Brexit: Jeremy Hunt 'could withhold part of £39bn divorce bill' BBC News (30 June 2019)
* I will mitigate the impact of a no-deal Brexit on you and step in to help smooth those short-term difficulties. If we could do it for the bankers in the financial crisis, we can do it for our fisherman, farmers and small businesses now.
** Tory leadership: Jeremy Hunt sets 30 September 'no-deal deadline' BBC News (1 July 2019)
* The principle is the backstop which traps us into following EU customs tariffs until the EU gives us permission to leave the customs union... we have to find a different solution.
** Tory leadership: Backstop 'has to change or go', says Hunt BBC News (2 July 2019)
* It was always going to be uphill for us because I was someone who voted Remain and I think lots of party members felt that this was a moment when you just had to have someone who voted for Brexit in the referendum. In retrospect, that was a hurdle we were never able to overcome.
** Boris Johnson wins race to be Tory leader and PM BBC News (23 July 2019)

### 2023

* I used to be a Latin dancer – with no great skill! [...] But when I was elected as an MP and I was still a young single man, I used to wear a t-shirt under my suit. And when we did the last vote 10 o'clock in the evening, I would then hop into my car and drive to a Lambada club, take off my suit like Superman, and get on the dance floor.
** From an interview on Classic FM, as cited in "Chancellor Jeremy Hunt: 'I was thrown out of my school choir! But I'd love to play the violin’", Classic FM (4 November 2023).
* I went to the [Rio de Janeiro] carnival three years in a row. ... I found a married life, politics and Latin dancing are not compatible so I'm afraid I've left my dancing years behind me.
** From an interview, as cited in "Jeremy Hunt: The next election will be the fight of my life – but I’m up for the battle", The Telegraph (17 November 2023)

## External links

* Personal website