Jeremy Hunt says he ‘dodged a bullet’ by not beating Boris Johnson in the Tory party leadership race
Jeremy Hunt is asked about missing out to Boris Johnson in the race to become PM. Photograph: Sky. - Credit: Archant
Jeremy Hunt has claimed he 'dodged a bullet' by not beating Boris Johnson to the job of Conservative Party leader.
The former health minister ran against Johnson in the competition to replace Theresa May last year, but now suggests he is relieved that he did not win the job.
Speaking to Sky News, he explained: 'I've certainly dodged a bullet, there's no question when you look at the year that poor Boris has had.
'It's been a very tough year for anyone who was prime minister, there's absolutely no question about it.
You may also want to watch:
'To deal with a pandemic is completely unprecedented. I would have loved to have done the job but I recognise that Boris Johnson did something very important which is he got an 80 seat majority for the Conservatives.
Most Read
- 1 Brexit regret: Meet the Leave voters who wish they hadn't voted Leave
- 2 Labour leader defends NHS after being kicked out of pub in Bath
- 3 Opposition parties push for probe into Boris Johnson's conduct following viral video
- 4 ‘I should not have listened to Cameron’ – Former European Commission president
- 5 Scottish Tory leader accused of 'nonsense' excuse for Boris Johnson avoiding Scotland
- 6 A chapter is over for Britain, for good or ill
- 7 Welsh government refused permission for legal challenge over post-Brexit bill
- 8 New research reveals half of Brexit supporters were not 'left behind' red-wall voters
- 9 Russell Kane: Why working class people like Boris Johnson
- 10 Annalena Baerbock: Can the Queen of Green seize the Bundestag?
'Whether or not you love or loathe the Conservatives we do now have political stability.'
Hunt says he was 'very kindly' offered a role in government, but added: 'I wanted to spend a bit more time with my kids.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.