Jeremy Hunt has retained his Surrey seat amidst a wave of losses for top Tories, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Grant Shapps, who were ousted in a significant defeat for the party nationwide.
The incumbent Chancellor, MP for South West Surrey since 2005, narrowly secured the newly created Godalming and Ash seat by approximately 1000 votes, facing tough competition from Liberal Democrat Paul Follows.
This result followed a night of unprecedented losses for cabinet ministers, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, and former leadership contender Penny Mordaunt. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former cabinet minister, also lost his seat.
After Hunt’s victory, his wife Lucinda was seen weeping with joy during a television interview. In his victory speech, Jeremy Hunt expressed his emotions, addressing his children: “This may seem like a tough day for our family as we move out of Downing Street, but it isn’t. We are incredibly lucky to live in a country where decisions like this are made not by bombs or bullets, but by thousands of ordinary citizens peacefully placing crosses in boxes and bits of paper. Brave Ukrainians are dying every day to defend their right to do what we did yesterday and we must never take that for granted. Don’t be sad, this is the magic of democracy.”
The widespread defeats highlight the collapse of Tory support in their traditional home counties heartlands.
During the election campaign, Hunt admitted his seat was on a “knife edge” but insisted he was “fighting” for the constituency and likened his situation to Michael Portillo’s 1997 election loss. Labour opponent James Walsh said Hunt was positioning himself as the “underdog.”
The Liberal Democrats, led by Ed Davey, targeted the so-called Blue Wall, as the largely remain-voting region shifted away from the Tories due to Brexit and the party’s swing to the right.
The future leadership of the Tory party remains uncertain, although Hunt and Rishi Sunak retained their seats. Leadership contenders Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman also won their seats.
Hunt was appointed Chancellor in the final days of Liz Truss’ government, after declining to participate in what would have been his third Tory leadership race. Upon entering No. 11, Hunt was hailed as “the most powerful person in Britain.”
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Jeremy Hunt has retained his Surrey seat amidst a wave of losses for top Tories, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Grant Shapps, who were ousted in a significant defeat for the party nationwide.
The incumbent Chancellor, MP for South West Surrey since 2005, narrowly secured the newly created Godalming and Ash seat by approximately 1000 votes, facing tough competition from Liberal Democrat Paul Follows.
This result followed a night of unprecedented losses for cabinet ministers, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, and former leadership contender Penny Mordaunt. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former cabinet minister, also lost his seat.
After Hunt’s victory, his wife Lucinda was seen weeping with joy during a television interview. In his victory speech, Jeremy Hunt expressed his emotions, addressing his children: “This may seem like a tough day for our family as we move out of Downing Street, but it isn’t. We are incredibly lucky to live in a country where decisions like this are made not by bombs or bullets, but by thousands of ordinary citizens peacefully placing crosses in boxes and bits of paper. Brave Ukrainians are dying every day to defend their right to do what we did yesterday and we must never take that for granted. Don’t be sad, this is the magic of democracy.”
The widespread defeats highlight the collapse of Tory support in their traditional home counties heartlands.
During the election campaign, Hunt admitted his seat was on a “knife edge” but insisted he was “fighting” for the constituency and likened his situation to Michael Portillo’s 1997 election loss. Labour opponent James Walsh said Hunt was positioning himself as the “underdog.”
The Liberal Democrats, led by Ed Davey, targeted the so-called Blue Wall, as the largely remain-voting region shifted away from the Tories due to Brexit and the party’s swing to the right.
The future leadership of the Tory party remains uncertain, although Hunt and Rishi Sunak retained their seats. Leadership contenders Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman also won their seats.
Hunt was appointed Chancellor in the final days of Liz Truss’ government, after declining to participate in what would have been his third Tory leadership race. Upon entering No. 11, Hunt was hailed as “the most powerful person in Britain.”
