British former finance minister Hunt bids an emotional farewell
Real human greatness shows itself in moments of defeat. The best example of this is the outgoing British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt. He gave a moving and impressive speech after the disastrous performance of the Tories, setting new standards - humanly and politically.
With the overwhelming election victory of the Labour Party, Britain has a new government. The outgoing Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt bid farewell with an emotional and memorable speech before leaving Downing Street No. 11 with his family. His successor is Rachel Reeves, making Britain's history with its first female Finance Minister.
Hunt, unlike several of his cabinet colleagues, had defended his seat in the House. However, he acknowledged that the election day was a bitter pill for his party and referred to the improving economic data. But then he pondered: "Some Conservatives will ask if the extent of our crushing defeat is justified. But when you lose the trust of the voters, it only matters to have the courage and humility to ask why and how to get it back."
The extent of the Tories' defeat and Labour's victory shows "that the British people trusted them more than us. And we must be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves very serious questions. I hope we give ourselves time for that."
Support for Labour Successor
The 57-year-old had held various ministerial positions since 2010 and was first the Finance Minister in Liz Truss's cabinet, then again from Rishi Sunak. Before that, he had led the Culture, then the Health, and finally the Foreign Ministry under Theresa May.
From his boss and neighbor in Downing Street, he bid farewell with the words: "I was incredibly proud to serve under Rishi Sunak, but I wish the new Labour government all the best."
The new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Finance Minister Reeves are "decent people and dedicated public servants who have changed the Labour Party for the better. Regardless of our political differences, we need them now to be successful." Hunt expressed hope that the Labour Party "urgently needed reforms" in the state health system NHS would be implemented as effectively as "conservative governments sometimes find it difficult."
The former Finance Minister also had special words for his family. To his wife Lucia Guo, he said: "I am so proud of my wife. Although she was not born in this country, she is the best campaigner I know." To his children, whom he hoped would finally sleep on election night, he said: "This may seem like a hard day for our family as we leave Downing Street, but it is not."
The Tory politician, who is considered a moderate voice in his party and a potential successor to Sunak at the party leadership, emphasized: "We have the incredible luck to live in a country where decisions like these are not made by bombs or bullets, but by thousands of simple citizens, peacefully putting crosses in ballot boxes." Every day, brave Ukrainians die "to defend their right to do what we did yesterday." This should never be taken for granted. Hunt closed with the words: "Do not be sad, that's the magic of democracy."
In the wake of the British House of Commons election, Jeremy Hunt acknowledged the Tories' crushing defeat and the Labour Party's overwhelming victory. Recognizing the trust the British people had placed in the new government, Hunt called for introspective questions within his party.
As a testament to Britain's political diversity, Jeremy Hunt expressed support for the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, despite their political differences. Recognizing the need for reforms, particularly in the state health system NHS, Hunt wished for the Labour Party's success.
