British former finance minister Hunt celebrates "magic of democracy"
Real human greatness shows itself in moments of defeat. The best example of this is the departing British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt. He gave a moving and impressive speech as he left the office, 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 equally emotional and memorable speech before he and his family left from No. 11 Downing Street. Hunt's successor is Rachel Reeves, making Britain's history with its first female Finance Minister.
Hunt, unlike several of his cabinet colleagues, had managed to defend 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 became reflective: "Some Conservatives will be asking if the extent of our crushing defeat is truly justified. But if we lose the trust of the voters, it only matters to have the courage and humility to ask why, so we can regain it."
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 some very profound questions. I hope we give ourselves the time for that."
Support for Labour's Successors
The 57-year-old had served various ministerial positions since 2010 and was first the Finance Minister under Liz Truss, then from Rishi Sunak again. Before that, he had led the Culture Ministry, and under Theresa May, he headed the Foreign Ministry.
From his boss and neighbor in the 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 "capable 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 the hope that the Labour Party would implement the "urgently needed reforms" in the NHS as "conservative governments sometimes find it difficult to do."
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 the 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 are dying "to defend their right to do what we did yesterday." We must never take this for granted. Hunt concluded with the words: "Do not be sad, that's the magic of democracy."
In light of the Labour Party's significant victory in the British House of Commons election, the role of Finance Minister will now be held by Rachel Reeves, making history as the first female Finance Minister in Great Britain. Jeremy Hunt, the outgoing Finance Minister, acknowledged the Tories' crushing defeat and encouraged his party to reflect on why they lost the voters' trust, with the hope of regaining it in the future.
