Sunak Says Jeremy Hunt Will Be UK Chancellor at General Election
- Premier shuts down rumor he’s planning to put key ally in role
- Hunt is battling to hold onto his seat in London commuter belt
This article is for subscribers only.
Rishi Sunak said Jeremy Hunt will still be the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer at the general election expected in the second half of the year, in an apparent attempt to quash rumors he could be moved aside in favor of a close ally of the prime minister, Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho.
Hunt, who was brought in to calm the financial markets during Liz Truss’s disastrous premiership, faces a battle to hold onto his parliamentary district of South West Surrey, which is a target for the resurgent Liberal Democrats. That has led to a flurry of speculation that Hunt may choose to step down rather than suffer a high-profile defeat on election night, or that he may step down as a Cabinet minister to focus on campaigning to keep his seat.