Who is Jeremy Hunt? The Rise and Fall of the UK’s Former Health Secretary
Jeremy Hunt is a British politician who served as the UK’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 2012 till 2018. He was a Member of Parliament for South West Surrey from 2005 until 2019 and represented the Conservative party. This blog post aims to provide you with an overview of Jeremy Hunt’s political career, his major achievements, controversies and downfall.
Early Career and Background
Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt was born on November 1st, 1966, in Kennington, London. Hunt attended Oxford University, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and economics.
After graduating from university, he worked in various positions, including as a management consultant and English Language teacher in Japan. He co-founded Hotcourses, an online directory of courses.
In 2005, Hunt was elected as a Member of Parliament for South West Surrey. He served as a shadow culture secretary and shadow minister for disabled people during his tenure as an MP.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
In 2010, the Conservative-led coalition government appointed Hunt as the Culture Secretary. After two years, in 2012, he was appointed as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
During his stint as health secretary, he launched NHS England’s Five-Year Forward View, which aimed to improve the effectiveness of treatment, health outcomes, and patient experiences while reducing costs.
Hunt focused on improving the quality of care provided by the NHS hospitals and enhancing the role of technology to deliver better healthcare services.
He also introduced stricter scrutiny of the performance of hospitals on waiting times, the financial health of NHS trusts, and patient safety.
Controversies as Health Secretary
During his time as Health Secretary, Hunt faced numerous controversies. One of the significant controversies was his plan to impose a new contract on junior doctors. The doctors went on strike against the contract, which led to widespread condemnation.
Hunt also faced criticism for his handling of the NHS winter crisis in 2017-18, with overcrowded hospitals and significant waiting times for emergency care.
There were also reports about Hunt’s profiting from his performance as Health Secretary. He had declared a 50% stake in a property company that purchased seven flats in Southampton. Hunt sold his stake in the company in 2019 before running for the Conservative Party leadership.
Leadership Challenge
In 2018, Hunt was appointed as the Foreign Secretary after Boris Johnson resigned from the post. However, in July 2019, Hunt stood for the leadership election of the Conservative party. He made it to the final two alongside Boris Johnson.
During the contest, Hunt promised a £27bn spending spree on roads, rail, and broadband. His campaign slogan was “deliver, unite, defeat.”
However, Johnson won the leadership election with 92,153 votes compared to Hunt’s 46,656.
Jeremy Hunt’s Downfall
After losing the leadership election, Hunt returned to his role as the Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
In 2021, Hunt faced criticism from his party colleagues after he called for an inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hunt’s remarks were seen as a criticism of the government’s response to the pandemic, and his party colleagues were quick to reprimand him.
Since then, Jeremy Hunt has fallen out of favor with the Conservative Party, and his political career seems to be heading towards a downfall.
FAQs About Jeremy Hunt
Q. What is Jeremy Hunt’s current role?
A. Jeremy Hunt doesn’t currently hold any significant political position. He is an MP for South West Surrey.
Q. How long was Jeremy Hunt the Health Secretary?
A. Jeremy Hunt served as the Health Secretary from 2012 till 2018.
Q. What was Jeremy Hunt’s major achievement as the Health Secretary?
A. Jeremy Hunt’s major achievement as the Health Secretary was launching NHS England’s Five-Year Forward View, which aimed to improve healthcare outcomes while reducing costs.
Q. Did Jeremy Hunt face any controversies during his tenure as the Health Secretary?
A. Yes, Jeremy Hunt faced numerous controversies during his tenure, including the imposition of a new contract on junior doctors and his handling of the NHS winter crisis.
Q. What was Jeremy Hunt’s slogan during the Conservative Party leadership contest?
A. Jeremy Hunt’s campaign slogan during the leadership contest was “deliver, unite, defeat.”
Q. How did Jeremy Hunt’s downfall begin?
A. Jeremy Hunt’s downfall began when he called for an inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was seen as a criticism of the government’s response.
Q. What was Jeremy Hunt’s role in the Conservative Party after losing the leadership contest?
A. After losing the leadership contest, Jeremy Hunt returned to his role as the Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
Conclusion
Jeremy Hunt is a British politician who served as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 2012 till 2018. He made significant contributions to the NHS, but his tenure was also plagued with numerous controversies. After losing the Conservative Party leadership contest in 2019, Hunt returned to his role as the Foreign Secretary. However, his criticism of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has put him at odds with his party colleagues, and his political career is now in danger. Nonetheless, his contributions to the healthcare sector will always be remembered.