How Jeremy Hunt became the most powerful person in Britain
The new chancellor of the exchequer promises orthodoxy and competence
Editor’s note: On October 20th Liz Truss resigned as leader of Britain’s Conservative Party and thus will soon depart as prime minister. The party will hold another leadership contest, its third in as many years, to pick her successor within seven days.
The most powerful person in Britain entered the House of Commons on October 17th to a chorus of respectful grunts. Addressing mps—as well as a wider audience of investors who buy gilts and sterling—he began soberly: “We are a country that funds our promises and pays our debts.” Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, delivered the message like a doctor with a grim diagnosis. Next to him sat Liz Truss, the actual prime minister. She stared into the middle-distance while Mr Hunt set about running the country.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Meet the man in charge”
Britain October 22nd 2022
- A brush with the bond markets reorders British politics
- As Britain’s government looks to save money, almost nothing is protected
- What a comparison between Britain and Italy reveals
- Suella Braverman resigns as home secretary
- Indians want the Koh-i-Noor diamond back
- In Britain, the least sexy form of travel is getting some attention
- How Jeremy Hunt became the most powerful person in Britain
From the October 22nd 2022 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Sir Keir Starmer meets the public. Sort of
The Labour leader is better than he was at campaigning but that is not saying a lot
Footballer, broadcaster, podcast mogul: the career of Gary Lineker
And what it says about modern Britain
The world’s first museum of homelessness
A new venue in London dedicated to an overlooked group